'Talkin' Jockney'?: variation and change in Glaswegian accent

Stuart-Smith, J., Timmins, C. and Tweedie, F. (2007) 'Talkin' Jockney'?: variation and change in Glaswegian accent. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 11(2), pp. 221-260. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9841.2007.00319.x)

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of language variation and change in a socially stratified corpus of Glaswegian collected in 1997. Eight consonantal variables in read and spontaneous speech from 32 speakers were analysed separately and then together using multivariate analysis. Our results show that middle-class speakers, with weaker network ties and more opportunities for mobility and contact with English English speakers, are maintaining traditional Scottish features. Working-class adolescents, with more limited mobility and belonging to close-knit networks, are changing their vernacular by using 'non-local' features such as TH-fronting and reducing expected Scottish features such as postvocalic /r/. We argue that local context is the key to understanding the findings. Mobility and network structures are involved, but must be taken in conjunction with the recent history of structural changes to Glasgow and the resulting construction of local class-based language ideologies which continue to be relevant in the city today.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Phonological variation • language variation and change • multivariate analysis, Scottish English, adolescents and vernacular, language ideology
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Timmins, Ms Claire and Stuart-Smith, Professor Jane
• Authors: Stuart-Smith, J., Timmins, C., and Tweedie, F.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PE English; P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
• Journal Name: Journal of Sociolinguistics
• ISSN: 1467-9841