Chapter 11. Developmental sociolinguistics and the acquisition of T-glottalling by immigrant teenagers in London
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Erik Schleef
Abstract
This study examines the acquisition of T-glottalling among teenage migrants in London. Results show that constraint hierarchies based on native input begin to be approached after two years in England. Initially, variation is completely reallocated; however, as teenagers spend more time in England, constraints are becoming increasingly similar to those of native speakers. While some constraints are replicated completely, there is also evidence that, even after three years in the country, some are altered, some are rejected, and some are re-interpreted, resulting in new constraints. Three tentative generalisations are made, relating to the order of constraint acquisition, constraint complexity and the role of grammatical category and word frequency as interpretative frameworks. In addition, the progression of constraint acquisition interacts with the increasing use of (t) as a stylistic resource, which allows teenagers to express identities based on the variation in (t) and other linguistic features. While style (as in attention paid to speech) does not appear until after three years in England in this study, qualitative analysis of interview data reveals that (t) is already available for stylistic work and experimentation after two years in England.
Abstract
This study examines the acquisition of T-glottalling among teenage migrants in London. Results show that constraint hierarchies based on native input begin to be approached after two years in England. Initially, variation is completely reallocated; however, as teenagers spend more time in England, constraints are becoming increasingly similar to those of native speakers. While some constraints are replicated completely, there is also evidence that, even after three years in the country, some are altered, some are rejected, and some are re-interpreted, resulting in new constraints. Three tentative generalisations are made, relating to the order of constraint acquisition, constraint complexity and the role of grammatical category and word frequency as interpretative frameworks. In addition, the progression of constraint acquisition interacts with the increasing use of (t) as a stylistic resource, which allows teenagers to express identities based on the variation in (t) and other linguistic features. While style (as in attention paid to speech) does not appear until after three years in England in this study, qualitative analysis of interview data reveals that (t) is already available for stylistic work and experimentation after two years in England.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Bridging the gap between language acquisition and sociolinguistics 1
- Chapter 2. The effects of exposure on awareness and discrimination of regional accents by five- and six year old children 43
- Chapter 3. How do social networks influence children’s stylistic practices? 65
- Chapter 4. Child acquisition of sociolinguistic variation 91
- Chapter 5. Acquiring attitudes towards varieties of Dutch 117
- Chapter 6. What is the target variety? 155
- Chapter 7. The relationship between segregation and participation in ethnolectal variants 185
- Chapter 8. Socializing language choices 213
- Chapter 9. Language acquisition in bilectal environments 235
- Chapter 10. Acquisition of phonological variables of a Flemish dialect by children raised in Standard Dutch 267
- Chapter 11. Developmental sociolinguistics and the acquisition of T-glottalling by immigrant teenagers in London 305
- Author index 343
- Subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Bridging the gap between language acquisition and sociolinguistics 1
- Chapter 2. The effects of exposure on awareness and discrimination of regional accents by five- and six year old children 43
- Chapter 3. How do social networks influence children’s stylistic practices? 65
- Chapter 4. Child acquisition of sociolinguistic variation 91
- Chapter 5. Acquiring attitudes towards varieties of Dutch 117
- Chapter 6. What is the target variety? 155
- Chapter 7. The relationship between segregation and participation in ethnolectal variants 185
- Chapter 8. Socializing language choices 213
- Chapter 9. Language acquisition in bilectal environments 235
- Chapter 10. Acquisition of phonological variables of a Flemish dialect by children raised in Standard Dutch 267
- Chapter 11. Developmental sociolinguistics and the acquisition of T-glottalling by immigrant teenagers in London 305
- Author index 343
- Subject index 345
