Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 9. Tracking change in social meaning
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 9. Tracking change in social meaning

The indexicality of “damped” /i/ in rural Sweden
  • Jenny Nilsson , Therese Leinonen and Lena Wenner
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Language Variation - European Perspectives VII
This chapter is in the book Language Variation - European Perspectives VII

Abstract

In this study, we focus on the different connotations of [ɨ] (a variant of the phoneme /i/) in Sweden in order to discuss the possible processes behind the changes in social meaning for a linguistic form.1 We investigate two rural areas (Skärhamn and Edsbyn), where the feature has been part of the traditional dialect, indexing place. In order to investigate how the social meaning of this variant has changed over time we have approached the phenomenon from different angles. Apart from investigating the change in use between the mid–20th century and present time, we have analysed informants’ production, attitudes and specifically perception of [ɨ] today. In Skärhamn [ɨ] still indexes place. In Edsbyn, the social meaning of this variant is more complex.

Abstract

In this study, we focus on the different connotations of [ɨ] (a variant of the phoneme /i/) in Sweden in order to discuss the possible processes behind the changes in social meaning for a linguistic form.1 We investigate two rural areas (Skärhamn and Edsbyn), where the feature has been part of the traditional dialect, indexing place. In order to investigate how the social meaning of this variant has changed over time we have approached the phenomenon from different angles. Apart from investigating the change in use between the mid–20th century and present time, we have analysed informants’ production, attitudes and specifically perception of [ɨ] today. In Skärhamn [ɨ] still indexes place. In Edsbyn, the social meaning of this variant is more complex.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 1. Language hybridism 9
  6. Chapter 2. Of clocks, clouds and sound change 27
  7. Chapter 3. Evaluations of foreign accent in a purist speech community 53
  8. Chapter 4. C’era i fascisti e i tedeschi 71
  9. Chapter 5. Language change caught in the act 85
  10. Chapter 6. Virtual sociolinguistics 103
  11. Chapter 7. ASPA Tools or how to measure foreign-accentedness and intelligibility in an objective manner 119
  12. Chapter 8. Vowel harmony patterns in Greek dialectal child speech 133
  13. Chapter 9. Tracking change in social meaning 145
  14. Chapter 10. Slit-t in Dublin English 159
  15. Chapter 11. Panel and trend studies 175
  16. Chapter 12. Quotative variation in Bernese Swiss German 191
  17. Chapter 13. Dialect levelling or shift 203
  18. Chapter 14. Complementing in another language 217
  19. Chapter 15. The past perfect in Cypriot Greek 231
  20. Index 245
https://doi.org/10.1075/silv.22.09nil

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 1. Language hybridism 9
  6. Chapter 2. Of clocks, clouds and sound change 27
  7. Chapter 3. Evaluations of foreign accent in a purist speech community 53
  8. Chapter 4. C’era i fascisti e i tedeschi 71
  9. Chapter 5. Language change caught in the act 85
  10. Chapter 6. Virtual sociolinguistics 103
  11. Chapter 7. ASPA Tools or how to measure foreign-accentedness and intelligibility in an objective manner 119
  12. Chapter 8. Vowel harmony patterns in Greek dialectal child speech 133
  13. Chapter 9. Tracking change in social meaning 145
  14. Chapter 10. Slit-t in Dublin English 159
  15. Chapter 11. Panel and trend studies 175
  16. Chapter 12. Quotative variation in Bernese Swiss German 191
  17. Chapter 13. Dialect levelling or shift 203
  18. Chapter 14. Complementing in another language 217
  19. Chapter 15. The past perfect in Cypriot Greek 231
  20. Index 245
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 14.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/silv.22.09nil/html
Scroll to top button