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Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system.

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Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system. / Kerswill, Paul; Torgersen, Eivind; Fox, Sue.
In: Language Variation and Change, Vol. 20, No. 3, 10.2008, p. 451-491.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Kerswill, P, Torgersen, E & Fox, S 2008, 'Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system.', Language Variation and Change, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 451-491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394508000148

APA

Kerswill, P., Torgersen, E., & Fox, S. (2008). Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system. Language Variation and Change, 20(3), 451-491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394508000148

Vancouver

Kerswill P, Torgersen E, Fox S. Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system. Language Variation and Change. 2008 Oct;20(3):451-491. doi: 10.1017/S0954394508000148

Author

Kerswill, Paul ; Torgersen, Eivind ; Fox, Sue. / Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system. In: Language Variation and Change. 2008 ; Vol. 20, No. 3. pp. 451-491.

Bibtex

@article{57b5934650e14420bdc97caab0a988ef,
title = "Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system.",
abstract = "This study contributes to innovation and diffusion models by examining phonetic changes in London English. It evaluates Sapir{\textquoteright}s notion of “drift,” which involves “natural,” unconscious change, in relation to these changes. Investigating parallel developments in two related varieties of English enables drift to be tested in terms of the effect of extralinguistic factors. The diphthongs of PRICE, MOUTH, FACE, and GOAT in both London and New Zealand English are characterized by “Diphthong Shift,” a process that continued unabated in New Zealand. A new, large data set of London speech shows Diphthong Shift reversal, providing counterevidence for drift. We discuss Diphthong Shift and its “reversal” in relation to innovation, diffusion, leveling, and supralocalization, arguing that sociolinguistic factors and dialect contact override natural Diphthong Shift. Studying dialect change in a metropolis, with its large and linguistically innovative minority ethnic population, is of the utmost importance in understanding the dynamics of change.",
author = "Paul Kerswill and Eivind Torgersen and Sue Fox",
year = "2008",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1017/S0954394508000148",
language = "English",
volume = "20",
pages = "451--491",
journal = "Language Variation and Change",
issn = "0954-3945",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reversing “drift” : Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system.

AU - Kerswill, Paul

AU - Torgersen, Eivind

AU - Fox, Sue

PY - 2008/10

Y1 - 2008/10

N2 - This study contributes to innovation and diffusion models by examining phonetic changes in London English. It evaluates Sapir’s notion of “drift,” which involves “natural,” unconscious change, in relation to these changes. Investigating parallel developments in two related varieties of English enables drift to be tested in terms of the effect of extralinguistic factors. The diphthongs of PRICE, MOUTH, FACE, and GOAT in both London and New Zealand English are characterized by “Diphthong Shift,” a process that continued unabated in New Zealand. A new, large data set of London speech shows Diphthong Shift reversal, providing counterevidence for drift. We discuss Diphthong Shift and its “reversal” in relation to innovation, diffusion, leveling, and supralocalization, arguing that sociolinguistic factors and dialect contact override natural Diphthong Shift. Studying dialect change in a metropolis, with its large and linguistically innovative minority ethnic population, is of the utmost importance in understanding the dynamics of change.

AB - This study contributes to innovation and diffusion models by examining phonetic changes in London English. It evaluates Sapir’s notion of “drift,” which involves “natural,” unconscious change, in relation to these changes. Investigating parallel developments in two related varieties of English enables drift to be tested in terms of the effect of extralinguistic factors. The diphthongs of PRICE, MOUTH, FACE, and GOAT in both London and New Zealand English are characterized by “Diphthong Shift,” a process that continued unabated in New Zealand. A new, large data set of London speech shows Diphthong Shift reversal, providing counterevidence for drift. We discuss Diphthong Shift and its “reversal” in relation to innovation, diffusion, leveling, and supralocalization, arguing that sociolinguistic factors and dialect contact override natural Diphthong Shift. Studying dialect change in a metropolis, with its large and linguistically innovative minority ethnic population, is of the utmost importance in understanding the dynamics of change.

U2 - 10.1017/S0954394508000148

DO - 10.1017/S0954394508000148

M3 - Journal article

VL - 20

SP - 451

EP - 491

JO - Language Variation and Change

JF - Language Variation and Change

SN - 0954-3945

IS - 3

ER -