Holistic corpus-based dialectology

This paper is concerned with sketching future directions for corpus-based dialectology. We advocate a holistic approach to the study of geographically conditioned linguistic variability, and we present a suitable methodology, 'corpusbased dialectometry', in exactly this spirit. Specifically, we argue that in order to live up to the potential of the corpus-based method, practitioners need to (i) abandon their exclusive focus on individual linguistic features in favor of the study of feature aggregates, (ii) draw on computationally advanced multivariate analysis techniques (such as multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis), and (iii) aid interpretation of empirical results by marshalling state-of-the-art data visualization techniques. To exemplify this line of analysis, we present a case study which explores joint frequency variability of 57 morphosyntax features in 34 dialects all over Great Britain

Javanese Varieties in Pringsewu Regency and Their Origins

It has been an interesting discussion on how certain language is spoken in the area far from its center. This paper is aimed at describing the Javanese language varieties in Pringsewu regency of Lampung province, locating the area where these varieties are spoken, and revealing the history why these varieties appear in the areas. By employing dialectology study using isogloss bundles and dialectometry, it was found that in the 18 Javanese observation locations (OL), the Javanese varieties are mostly indicated by both lexical and sound variation, and these varieties are classified in less than 30% lexical difference. There are some areas using Banyumas dialect with its distinctive features and also varieties that reflect standard Javanese. The Javanese varieties in this area are spoken as the first language by the informants. The varieties are derived from the migrants coming several parts in Java Island with different periods and motifs of arrival

Age and Accent - Changes in a Southern Welsh English Accent

This paper describes the accent of Neath (South Wales) from a socio-dialectological perspective and deals with changes in the accent which are due to the non-linguistic factor age. In a direct interview with indirect questioning, 27 informants from Neath were recorded for the investigation of the English spoken in Neath. Based on the life-stage approach, the 27 informants are divided into three age-groups, representing adolescents, younger adults, and older adults respectively. The data is described using Well's lexical sets and analysed statistically to show correlations between age and linguistic variants. The percentage with which some variants are realised in the key-words varies by up to 60 per cent. The realisations of STRUT, BATH and START, FACE/STAY, GOAT/SNOW, NEAR, CURE, PLAYER, emPLOYER, FIRE, POWER, and the consonants /r/, /l/, and word final in participles and gerunds have changed throughout age