Dialect Levelling

Koineization

A mixed dialect form when speakers of different dialects contact

Where does Koineization occur

New towns, colonial settlements and migration hotspots

Trudgill’s three stages of Koineization and evaluation

Initial contact, levelling, stabilisation. Too linear, initial contact no longer present from computer mediated communication.

Dialect levelling

Reduction of differences between dialects over time

Features of dialect levelling

Replacement of local forms, loss of marked features, emergence of new varieties

Kerswill - Mobility migration and new dialects

Increased geographical/social mobility causes dialect levelling and new urban dialects (epicentres of innovation). Children led varieties are blend of parents dialect in Milton Keynes. Replacement of traditional MK vowels with features like th-fronting and globalisation.

Kerswill evaluation

Epicentre of innovation fails to account for social agency (purposeful like in Hull). Accounts for change from below with speakers being active agents using language as a tool for identity construction

Kerswill in MK, Reading and Hull

Young speakers in MK and Reading show most levelling into Estuary English. Older speakers preserve local forms. Accent also remains in Hull due to resistance to education and isolation

Why dialect levelling occurs and what it shows - Kerswill

Happens due to peer groups and increased contact with other dialects. Shows dialect change is led by youth and social networks

Estuary English

Features of RP and London English blended, originally from SE England. Associated with young, urban and middle class speakers as a levelling variety

Giles Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT)

Processes of convergence, divergence (upwards/downwards) and over accommodation. Performed for social approval, comprehensibility and identity/status management. Causes dialect levelling in the long term (micro behaviour into macro change)

Giles evaluation

Convergence not identity loss but a sophisticated social tool for rapport management. Language not fixed but a dynamic performance dictated by context and audience. Convergence only possible if speaker has linguistic resources. Undervalues ‘over accommodation’ where inadvertent highlight outsider status

Coupland and Bishop survey and what it shows

Pre conceived survey on accents that showed RP as most prestigious and correct, Geordie as high friendliness but low prestige. Shows people evaluate accents on social stereotypes and explained ideology of Standard English

Neulip and Steph Hansen Ethnocentric

More ethnocentric groups give lower attractiveness ranking to ‘non native’ accents. Shows attitudes are shaped by identity, culture and belonging which gives motivation for ‘non natives’ to converge

Lippi-Green Linguistic discrimination

Standard English is an ideology to create hierarchies and enforce conformity. Disney characters with a foreign accent are 47% villains. Causes Job discrimination

Lippi Green evaluation

SE ideology an institutional gatekeeping tool that shows how ‘correctdness’ and ‘prestige’ are social constructs rooted by social judgement and political power

Montgomery- perception mapping

People form inaccurate maps of dialect regions due to stereotypes. People living far away from Newcastle class themselves as Geordie. Shows attitudes drives levelling not linguistic exposure

Stuart Smith - Glaswegian Media Influence

Glaswegian teenagers using London features. This is due to school networks, peer groups and local identity. Media reinforces but does not cause change

Stuart Smith evaluation

Language change is a sociocultural pnemonom reflecting underlying shifts. Technology discourse of declinism false as change only occurs if the speaker aligns with the identity aspirations they promote.

Foulkes/ Docherty

Traditional regional features are being replaced by more widespread, levelled forms, especially in children. They highlighted the spread of glottal stops and the decline of marked consonants like /r/ and /l/, showing that urban centres act as hubs of linguistic innovation. Weak social networks and peer influence accelerate this due to identity and covert prestige.

Direct reasons dialect levelling happens

Migration, Urbanisation, Education, Increased mobility/media

Indirect reasons dialect levelling happens

Accommodation, Weak social networks, Prestige forms spreading, Identity shifts