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Chapter 4: Canadian English in real-time perspective

  • Stefan Dollinger
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Volume 5 Varieties of English
This chapter is in the book Volume 5 Varieties of English

Abstract

The study of Canadian English (CanE) has undergone phases of considerable activity in the 20th century and must today be considered a field in its own right. The purpose of this overview is to present the research on CanE from a diachronic, and, wherever possible, real-time perspective. Given the lack of a consistent historical research tradition in CanE linguistics, the present chapter aims to link real-time studies of CanE with the most relevant apparent-time approaches. The following pages are intended as a spring board to CanE for those approaching it from a historical and sociohistorical linguistic perspective. The structure of this overview begins with the notions of Standard CanE and CanE regional varieties (Section 1). Section 2 provides basic demographic and settlement information over time for linguistic purposes. Section 3 introduces methods that have been applied in the study of the development of CanE varieties, while Section 4, organized along linguistic levels of description, aims to introduce the reader to major variables in historical CanE linguistics. Section 5 closes with some research desiderata. The overall focus of this chapter will give preference - in keeping with the traditions in historical English linguistics - to real-time approaches of linguistic change. This foregrounding is taken (for more synchronic summaries, see Boberg 2010; Levey 2010; Chambers 2010, 1998; Dollinger 2008a: 9-62; Bailey 1982) to highlight the historical linguistic approach to CanE.

Abstract

The study of Canadian English (CanE) has undergone phases of considerable activity in the 20th century and must today be considered a field in its own right. The purpose of this overview is to present the research on CanE from a diachronic, and, wherever possible, real-time perspective. Given the lack of a consistent historical research tradition in CanE linguistics, the present chapter aims to link real-time studies of CanE with the most relevant apparent-time approaches. The following pages are intended as a spring board to CanE for those approaching it from a historical and sociohistorical linguistic perspective. The structure of this overview begins with the notions of Standard CanE and CanE regional varieties (Section 1). Section 2 provides basic demographic and settlement information over time for linguistic purposes. Section 3 introduces methods that have been applied in the study of the development of CanE varieties, while Section 4, organized along linguistic levels of description, aims to introduce the reader to major variables in historical CanE linguistics. Section 5 closes with some research desiderata. The overall focus of this chapter will give preference - in keeping with the traditions in historical English linguistics - to real-time approaches of linguistic change. This foregrounding is taken (for more synchronic summaries, see Boberg 2010; Levey 2010; Chambers 2010, 1998; Dollinger 2008a: 9-62; Bailey 1982) to highlight the historical linguistic approach to CanE.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Standard American English 9
  6. Chapter 3: Regional varieties of American English 31
  7. Chapter 4: Canadian English in real-time perspective 53
  8. Chapter 5: Re-viewing the origins and history of African American Language 80
  9. Chapter 6: Standard British English 96
  10. Chapter 7: Regional varieties of British English 121
  11. Chapter 8: Received Pronunciation 151
  12. Chapter 9: Estuary English 169
  13. Chapter 10: Cockney 187
  14. Chapter 11: Celtic and Celtic Englishes 210
  15. Chapter 12: Scots 231
  16. Chapter 13: English in Ireland 244
  17. Chapter 14: English in Wales 265
  18. Chapter 15: Australian/New Zealand English 289
  19. Chapter 16: English in India 311
  20. Chapter 17: English in Africa – a diachronic typology 330
  21. Chapter 18: Diffusion 349
  22. Chapter 19: Supraregionalization 365
  23. Chapter 20: Pidgins and creoles 385
  24. Index 403
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110525045-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Standard American English 9
  6. Chapter 3: Regional varieties of American English 31
  7. Chapter 4: Canadian English in real-time perspective 53
  8. Chapter 5: Re-viewing the origins and history of African American Language 80
  9. Chapter 6: Standard British English 96
  10. Chapter 7: Regional varieties of British English 121
  11. Chapter 8: Received Pronunciation 151
  12. Chapter 9: Estuary English 169
  13. Chapter 10: Cockney 187
  14. Chapter 11: Celtic and Celtic Englishes 210
  15. Chapter 12: Scots 231
  16. Chapter 13: English in Ireland 244
  17. Chapter 14: English in Wales 265
  18. Chapter 15: Australian/New Zealand English 289
  19. Chapter 16: English in India 311
  20. Chapter 17: English in Africa – a diachronic typology 330
  21. Chapter 18: Diffusion 349
  22. Chapter 19: Supraregionalization 365
  23. Chapter 20: Pidgins and creoles 385
  24. Index 403
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