Abstract This article investigates the pragmatic function of new negative markers during incipient renewal negation in ‘Jespersen’s cycle’. We outline a typology these markers, suggesting pathway by which they begin as specialized for use with discourse-old propositions and later expand to inferred before finally becoming possible discourse-new propositions. framework is applied an overlooked case Jespersen’s cycle North Germanic: replacement early Norwegian ei ( gi ) “not” ekki (originally...

Abstract Work in sociolinguistic typology and creole studies has established the theory that intensive language contact involving second acquisition by adults tends to lead grammatical simplification. This is built on many anecdotal case studies, including developments history of Continental North Germanic associated with Middle Low German. In this paper, we assess examining two changes Norwegian: loss coda /Cr/ clusters prepositional genitives. If correct, these should have been innovated...

East Anglian English was the first British variety of to be subject dialectological scrutiny using sociolinguistic techniques (Trudgill, 1974, and his subsequent work) since then has been only sporadic investigation (e.g. Britain, 1991, 2014a, 2014b, 2015; Kingston, 2000; Straw, 2006; Amos, 2011; Potter, 2012, 2018; Butcher, 2015). Recent research suggested that, in those few locations that have investigated, is gradually losing some its traditional dialect features, favour forms from South...

Abstract This paper examines individual differences in constraints on linguistic variation light of Labov's (2007) proposal that adult change (diffusion) disrupts systems and Tamminga, MacKenzie, Embick's (2016) typology constraints. It is shown that, pooling data from multiple speakers, some the complexity structured community may be overlooked. Data rhoticity speakers Bristol English are compared to 34 previous studies varieties around world. Constraints found consistent across also...

Abstract Discovering and quantifying the drivers of language change is a major challenge. Hypotheses about causal factors proliferate, but are difficult to rigorously test. Here we ask simple question: can 20th century changes in English be explained as consequence spatial diffusion, or have other processes created bias favour certain linguistic forms? Using two most comprehensive datasets available, which measure state at beginning end century, calibrate model so that, initialised with...

Abstract One consistent finding across sociolinguistic studies is the tendency for female speakers to lead in ongoing change. Different explanations have been proposed this and a key method of testing these identify whether pattern occurs languages wider range societies than studied thus far. Historical are relatively understudied regard, but undertaking variationist research into gender historical varieties presents many challenges. way overcome examine variation internal fiction data. This...

The pronunciation of the bath vowel is a salient feature English varieties southwest England, yet neither status trap – split in traditional dialects nor ongoing change today well understood. After reviewing existing literature, we investigate quality and length low unrounded vowels Bristol on basis sociolinguistic interviews with twenty-five speakers. picture suggested by these data complex: there evidence for length-only split, backness diffusing from east merger north. Some changes...

Abstract Work in historical sociolinguistics can broadly be divided into quantitative work which examines population‐level trends past language use, and qualitative documents explains the usage of individuals or within particular texts. In this paper, we argue for an approach combines both these. Using mixed methods achieve all advantages approaches, revealing complexity use real social contexts but situating it a well‐described view processes at play. We demonstrate our with exploration...

English dialect maps are used to infer how linguistic features copied. Copying driven by conformity, generating surface tension, appears more likely than proportional copying, which creates patterns noise

The pronunciation of the bath vowel is a salient feature English varieties southwest England, yet neither status trap–bath split in traditional dialects nor ongoing change today well understood. After reviewing existing literature, we investigate quality and length low unrounded vowels Bristol on basis sociolinguistic interviews with twenty-five speakers. picture suggested by these data complex: there evidence for length-only split, backness diffusing from east merger north. Some changes...

Abstract Tracing the diffusion of linguistic innovations in space from historical sources is challenging. The complexity datasets needed combination with noisy reality language data mean that it has not been practical until recently. However, bigger corpora richer spatial and temporal information allow us to attempt it. This paper presents an investigation into changes affecting first person non-singular pronouns history Norwegian: first, individual dual ( vit > mit ) plural vér mér ),...

Dialects in the South East of England are very often perceived as one homogenous mass, without much regional variation. Rosewarne introduced notion Estuary English and defined it ‘variety modified speech [ . ] a mixture non-regional local south-eastern pronunciation intonation’ (Rosewarne, 1984). However, studies such Przedlacka (2001) Torgersen & Kerswill (2004) have shown that, at least on phonetic level, distinct varieties exist. Nevertheless, few investigated language use even fewer...

Abstract In this article we assess the extent to which can collect plausible data about regional dialect variation using crowdsourcing techniques – BBC Future Survey without explicitly gathering any user metadata, but relying instead on background information collected by Google Analytics. order do this, compare approach with another crowdsourced survey, operated from a smartphone application, examines same site British Isles asks users submit detailed social English Dialects App (EDA)...

We introduce a stochastic model of language change in population speakers who are divided into social or geographical groups.We assume that sequences changes driven by the inference grammatical rules from memorised linguistic patterns.These paths controlled an inferability matrix which can be structured to wide range processes.The extent able determine dominant patterns their speech community is captured temperature-like parameter.This induce symmetry breaking phase transitions, where...

Keyword analysis has been used to investigate properties of style and genre, as a tool in discourse analysis, method identifying differences between the speech distinct social groups. It often criticised blunt which can exaggerate what are present fails distinguish quite phenomena. However, it remains very powerful for wide systematic corpora when with sufficient scepticism. This paper uses keyword examine male female characters Íslendingasögur , narrative prose texts composed Iceland 13th...

In this case study we examine change in the FACE vowel across England. We used contemporary dialect data from more than 40,000 speakers – collected with English Dialects smartphone app and compared them to historical Atlas 1950s. Results revealed substantial leveling tendencies towards Standard Southern British [ei] Geordie [iə] [iɐ], however, appear resist change. further discuss methodological limitations, such as reliability of collecting response through applications. Using a model,...

The neutral theory of genetic and linguistic evolution holds that the relative frequencies variants evolve by random drift. Neutral remains a plausible null model language change. In this paper we provide evidence against hypothesis considering geographical patterns observed in surveys. We speakers as neurons Hopfield network embedded space, analogous to one classical two dimensional lattice models statistical physics. universality class depends on form activation function neurons, which...