Levelling and diffusion in the Cumbrian city dialect of Carlisle

This book presents a synchronic investigation of variation and change processes in Carlisle English, a variety spoken in the far north-west of England. The dataset is based on sociolinguistic interviews and the variation in the variables GOOSE, GOAT and FOOT, (T), (R) and (TH) is analysed quantitatively in order to detect diffusion and levelling processes as outcomes of dialect contact scenarios in Carlisle. The data show that GOOSE-fronting and T-glottaling are changes which are well underway in the community while the use of labiodental /r/ and TH-fronting are recorded in the initial stages of these incoming changes. Not all these changes, in particular GOOSE-fronting, have diffused from Tyneside in the north-east of the country.

Autoreninformation:
Dr. Sandra Jansen lehrt englische Linguistik an der Universität Paderborn.