Dialect Levelling

Koineization

A mixed dialect form when speakers of different dialects contact

Where does Koineization occur

New towns, colonial settlements and migration hotspots

Three stages of Koineization

Initial contact, levelling, stabilisation

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. Children led varieties are blend of parents dialect in Milton Keynes. Replacement of traditional MK vowels with features like th fronting and globalisation.

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 reduced contact with other dialects. Shows dialect change is led by youth and social networks

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)

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

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

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