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On final laryngeal distinctions in Wisconsin Standard German

  • Renee Remy
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Studies on German-Language Islands
This chapter is in the book Studies on German-Language Islands

Abstract

Final laryngeal distinctions in the speech of two Eastern Wisconsin Germans provide insight into the German dialects spoken in Eastern Wisconsin, and how Wisconsin English has apparently begun to develop patterns of final fortition (Auslautverhärtung). The speech samples show that both speakers differ from standard German and each other, with regard to laryngeally neutral consonants. In Manitowoc county, some voicing is present on underlying /s/ consonants, while underlying /b,d,g/ consonants remain almost exclusively laryngeally neutral. The Ozaukee county speaker shows neutralization across /b,d,g,z/ consonants with predictable exceptions. Looking at Wisconsin German also helps to understand American English as spoken in Eastern Wisconsin. Thus, final laryngeal distinctions are important for obtaining a clear picture of speech patterns used by bilingual Germans in Eastern Wisconsin.

Abstract

Final laryngeal distinctions in the speech of two Eastern Wisconsin Germans provide insight into the German dialects spoken in Eastern Wisconsin, and how Wisconsin English has apparently begun to develop patterns of final fortition (Auslautverhärtung). The speech samples show that both speakers differ from standard German and each other, with regard to laryngeally neutral consonants. In Manitowoc county, some voicing is present on underlying /s/ consonants, while underlying /b,d,g/ consonants remain almost exclusively laryngeally neutral. The Ozaukee county speaker shows neutralization across /b,d,g,z/ consonants with predictable exceptions. Looking at Wisconsin German also helps to understand American English as spoken in Eastern Wisconsin. Thus, final laryngeal distinctions are important for obtaining a clear picture of speech patterns used by bilingual Germans in Eastern Wisconsin.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. List of abbreviations ix
  5. List of contributors xi
  6. Why study Sprachinseln from generative or structural perspectives? 1
  7. Section 1. Phonetics & Phonology
  8. On final laryngeal distinctions in Wisconsin Standard German 13
  9. Past participles in Mòcheno 33
  10. Section 2. Morphology & Lexical studies
  11. Plautdietsch gender 67
  12. Anaphors in contact 111
  13. Lexical developments in Texas German 129
  14. Gender assignment of English loanwords in Pennsylvania German 151
  15. Section 3. Syntax I - Verb clusters
  16. Synchrony and diachrony of verb clusters in Pennsylvania Dutch 165
  17. Looking for order in chaos 187
  18. Section 4. Syntax II - The syntax of Cimbrian German
  19. Spoken syntax in Cimbrian of the linguistic islands in Northern Italy- and what they (do not) betray about language universals and change under areal contact with Italo-Romance 233
  20. Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP 279
  21. Hidden verb second 301
  22. Revisiting the Wackernagelposition 347
  23. Section 5. Syntax III - The syntax of Pennsylvania German
  24. Changes in frequency as a measure of language change 371
  25. From preposition to purposive to infinitival marker 385
  26. Section 6. Pragmatics & Conversation analysis
  27. Word choice, turn construction, and topic management in German conversation 415
  28. Texas German discourse pragmatics 455
  29. Index 475
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.123.02rem

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. List of abbreviations ix
  5. List of contributors xi
  6. Why study Sprachinseln from generative or structural perspectives? 1
  7. Section 1. Phonetics & Phonology
  8. On final laryngeal distinctions in Wisconsin Standard German 13
  9. Past participles in Mòcheno 33
  10. Section 2. Morphology & Lexical studies
  11. Plautdietsch gender 67
  12. Anaphors in contact 111
  13. Lexical developments in Texas German 129
  14. Gender assignment of English loanwords in Pennsylvania German 151
  15. Section 3. Syntax I - Verb clusters
  16. Synchrony and diachrony of verb clusters in Pennsylvania Dutch 165
  17. Looking for order in chaos 187
  18. Section 4. Syntax II - The syntax of Cimbrian German
  19. Spoken syntax in Cimbrian of the linguistic islands in Northern Italy- and what they (do not) betray about language universals and change under areal contact with Italo-Romance 233
  20. Diachronic clues to grammaticalization phenomena in the Cimbrian CP 279
  21. Hidden verb second 301
  22. Revisiting the Wackernagelposition 347
  23. Section 5. Syntax III - The syntax of Pennsylvania German
  24. Changes in frequency as a measure of language change 371
  25. From preposition to purposive to infinitival marker 385
  26. Section 6. Pragmatics & Conversation analysis
  27. Word choice, turn construction, and topic management in German conversation 415
  28. Texas German discourse pragmatics 455
  29. Index 475
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