Using Mahalanobis Distances to Investigate Second Dialect Acquisition: A Study on Quebec French

Second dialect acquisition (SDA) can be defined as the process through which geographically mobile individuals adapt to new dialect features of their first language. Two common methodological approaches in SDA studies could lead to underestimating the phonetic changes that mobile speakers may experience: only large phonetic differences between dialects are considered, and external sources are used to infer what should have been the speakers’ original dialect. By contrast, in this study, we carry out a longitudinal analysis to empirically assess the speakers’ baseline and shift away from it with no priors as to which features should change or not. Furthermore, we focus on Quebec French, a variety with a relatively crowded vowel space. Using Mahalanobis distances, we measure how acoustic characteristics of vowels produced by 15 mobile speakers change relative to those of a control group of 8 sedentary speakers, with the mobile participants recorded right after they moved to Quebec City, then a year later. Overall, the results show a reduction of Mahalanobis distances over time, indicating convergence toward the control system. Convergence also tends to be greater in denser areas of the vowel space. These results suggest that phonetic changes during SDA could be finer than previously thought. This study calls for the use of methodological approaches that can reveal such trends, and contributes to uncovering the extent of phonetic flexibility during adulthood

A STUDY OF RECONCILIATION FOR GRADUATE COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS

The current research project investigates a previously undiscovered part of the underlying process of how non-Indigenous Counselling Psychology graduate students make sense of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This Grounded Theory study sheds light on how the participant's core processes stabilize and destabilize social constructs and thinking. The current study reflects the developing themes for emerging adults in Canada's system. The present work argues that reconciliation on a societal level begins with questioning and creating new narratives individually. However, reconciliation also focuses on a system approach to truth and how this relates to settler/White denial issues. Six processes reveal the factors that facilitate and hinder the potential for societal reconciliation in the Canadian context.: indigenous peoples, reconciliation, emerging adults, meaningful participatio

Adolescent Ethnolinguistic Stability and Change: A Longitudinal Study

Most sociolinguistic studies rely on apparent time, cross-sectional methods to analyze language change. On the basis of apparent time data, sociolinguists have hypothesized that cultural processes of lifespan change create predictable cycles of linguistic behavior in which adolescents lead in the use of vernacular variants and advance sound change (Eckert 1997). While adolescence is hypothesized to be central to vernacular optimization and language change processes, only longitudinal studies reveal whether individuals change their linguistic behavior in predictable ways across adolescence. Furthermore, longitudinal data about individual trajectories of change allow linguists to confirm or disconfirm apparent time data. As a longitudinal study of over 67 African Americans from infancy to post-high school, the Frank Porter Graham (FPG) study presents a unique opportunity to document language variation across the lifespan. This analysis is the first longitudinal acoustic analysis of vocalic variation from childhood to early adulthood. Because African American English (AAE) vowels in the Piedmont region of NC are stable, this study can explore the extent to which life-stage variation influences participation in ethnolinguistic vowel systems without the confound of a change in progress. Additionally, because longitudinal trajectories of AAE morphosyntactic/consonantal variables are documented, comparisons across linguistic subsystems reveal the extents and limits to which life-stage patterns predict linguistic cycles of behavior. This study focuses on a subset of 20 individuals at approximately ages 9, 12, 15, and 20. Although all participants are from the Piedmont region of NC, individuals come from two communities with different demographics. Hierarchical regressions show that, while participation in AAE vowels strongly correlate with community and school demographics, stable vocalic variables do not undergo aggregate-level peaking patterns consistent with age-grading. Instead, stable aggregate patterns camouflage idiosyncratic individual trajectories. A lack of group patterns for vowel variation across adolescence suggests that life-stage variation does not affect all linguistic systems equally; age-grading is a minority pattern perhaps associated with stereotyped features and/or morphosyntactic/consonantal variables. Because age-grading is not a predominant pattern for non-stereotyped vocalic variation, apparent time peaks in adolescent vowel data should not be taken for granted as a default product of age-grading.Doctor of Philosoph

La représentation de la variation syntaxique chez le personnel enseignant au primaire dans la ville de Québec

En enseignement du français langue maternelle, la tendance à situer le français québécois standard comme une variété linguistique dotée d'une valeur intrinsèque et non pas sociale amènerait les enseignantes et les enseignants à rejeter les variétés non standard qui peuvent faire partie du répertoire linguistique des élèves, ce qui entrainerait, dès les premières années du parcours scolaire, insécurité linguistique chez ces derniers. Cette affirmation, reprise de toute part, ne semble fondée sur aucune base empirique récente réalisée en contexte québécois. Dans cet état de choses, il incombe de se pencher sur la représentation de la variation linguistique chez les enseignantes et les enseignants au primaire, susceptible d'influencer leurs discours et leurs pratiques. En particulier, cette étude se donne l'objectif de décrire leur représentation de la variation syntaxique, étant donné la réflexion pauvre à ce sujet, par exemple en comparaison avec la variation lexicale, à laquelle ils se montrent assez sensibilisés. Cet objectif se décline en quatre questions de recherche. Ce travail cherche ainsi à décrire la représentation de la variation syntaxique diaphasique, à souligner les différences entre les représentations du français familier québécois et du français standard québécois, à mesurer le degré d'homogénéité de la représentation du français québécois familier dans le groupe étudié et à évaluer le degré de reproduction des idéologies linguistiques dominantes. Le projet privilégie une méthode mixte inspirée de la méthode d'analyse combinée des langues de Maurer (2013, 2016). L'analyse d'un corpus de textes produits par des enseignantes et des enseignants ou leur étant destinés permet d'élaborer deux tâches de classements qui constituent le cœur d'un questionnaire en ligne composé de deux autres sections, soit trois mises en situation et six questions directes. Les résultats suggèrent d'abord que le personnel enseignant tient une représentation de la variation syntaxique nuancée, en particulier de la variété familière de français québécois, et modulable; que le français standard québécois est mieux évalué que le français familier québécois, mais de manière partagée; ensuite, qu'elle est relativement homogène; finalement, qu'il n'adhère pas aveuglément aux idéologies linguistiques prises en compte. En bout de piste, le projet explore les solutions proposées par la recherche en vue d'amener le corps enseignant à s'ouvrir davantage à la pensée sociolinguistique

Language Variation and Social Identity in Beijing

PhDThis thesis investigates language variation among a group of young adults in Beijing, China, with an aim to advance our understanding of social meaning in a language and a society where the topic is understudied. In this thesis, I examine the use of Beijing Mandarin among Beijingborn university students in Beijing in relation to social factors including gender, social class, career plan, and future aspiration. Language variation in this context can further our understanding of Chinese culture in a newlyreformed society while exploring important constructs such as gender and aspiration in China, in part by establishing the social meaning of the local vernacular and its role in identity construction among speakers. The study presents data from both sociolinguistic interviews, conducted with 21 Beijingers who have di erent class backgrounds, career plans, and future aspiration, and self-recordings, from a subset of 10 Beijingers in conversation with their family and/or friends. I focus on three thus far under-examined linguistic variables { neutral tone, classi er omission, and intensi er te { while incorporating an additional variable { erhua (word- nal rhotacisation) in the discussion of stylistic variation in Beijing Mandarin. The results rst provide an overview of language variation in Beijing Mandarin, as shown in the use of di erent features and their linguistic and social constraints. We observe familiar patterns often found in sociolinguistic literature for some social factors (e.g. gender), while more complex interactions exist for others (e.g. aspiration and career path). The ndings suggest that Beijing Mandarin conveys localness and masculinity which is expected for a vernacular variety. Finer distinctions in the social meanings of these variables are found in sub-groups of Beijingers with di erent gender, future career path and/or aspiration. Moreover, speakers are seen to utilise these variables and their meanings in the construction of personae.Economic and Social Research Council and Queen Mary, University of Londo

Mál á mannsævi : 70 ára þróun tilbrigða í framburði – einstaklingar og samfélag

Ágrip: Í rannsókninni Mál á mannsævi er sjónum beint að tilbrigðum í íslenskum framburði, nánar tiltekið eftirtöldum fjórum pörum þar sem fyrrnefnda afbrigðið er sjaldgæfara á landsvísu og útbreiðsla þess að mestu tengd afmörkuðum landsvæðum: Harðmæli/linmæli, raddaður/óraddaður framburður, hv-/kv-framburður og skaftfellskur einhljóðaframburður/tvíhljóðaframburður. Þróunin er skoðuð frá ýmsum hliðum og markmiðið í senn að kanna hvaða breytingar hafa orðið á tíðni og dreifingu landshlutabundnu afbrigðanna á kjarnasvæðum sínum allt frá fyrri hluta 20. aldar og hvernig mál einstaklinga hefur þróast yfir æviskeiðið og varpa um leið almennu ljósi á málbreytingar. Efniviðurinn samanstendur af þremur framburðarrannsóknum sem unnið var að á 70 ára tímabili. Tvær þær fyrri, rannsókn Björns Guðfinnssonar á 5. áratug 20. aldar og RÍN, Rannsókn á íslensku nútímamáli, frá 9. áratugnum, voru viðamiklar. Þær bjóða upp á ítarlega athugun á þróun tilbrigðaparanna á þessu skeiði, ekki síst vegna þess að grannskoðun á gögnum Björns leiddi í ljós að niðurstöðurnar má túlka á nákvæmari hátt en hingað til hefur verið unnt. Þróunin er skoðuð í ljósi málfræðilegra einkenna breytileikans, viðhorfa til afbrigða, sem könnuð voru sérstaklega í tengslum við rannsóknina og þróunar samfélagsins. Þannig er leitast við að skyggnast víða eftir skýringum. Vinna hófst við síðustu rannsóknina árið 2010, RAUN, Málbreytingar í rauntíma í íslensku hljóðkerfi og setningagerð. Með henni er hægt að varpa ljósi á framhald fyrri þróunar, en að nokkru leyti verður sú mynd grófari en á fyrra skeiðinu. Á hinn bóginn býður RAUN upp á svokallaðan rauntímasamanburð því að einstaklingar sem tóku þátt í henni voru áður meðal þátttakenda í fyrri rannsóknum. Elsta fólkið skiptir tugum og í fjölbreyttu úrvali rauntímarannsókna er fáheyrt að svo stór hópur hafi tekið þátt í rannsóknum sem spanna jafnlangt tímabil. Efniviðurinn er nýttur til að skoða málþróun yfir æviskeiðið frá ýmsum sjónarhornum og leita svara við spurningum sem snúa að þessum tilteknu framburðarafbrigðum en hafa einnig almennara gildi. Spurt er hvort sum afbrigði frekar en önnur sæki á eða hörfi yfir æviskeiðið og hvort málfræðilegir þættir eða félagslegir geti átt hlut að máli. Um leið er leitast við að varpa nokkru ljósi á eðli slíkra ævibreytinga, hversu móttækilegt málkerfið sé fyrir breytingum á fullorðinsárum og hvaða kraftar séu þar að verki. Af þessu má ráða að engin ein tilgáta eða sýn á málfræði og málbreytingar ræður ferðinni í rannsókninni, en það er ekki síst markmiðið að sýna fram á mikilvægi þess að einskorða sig ekki við þröngt sjónarhorn. Þá er sérstaklega horft til þess að félagsmálfræðingar og málkunnáttufræðingar hafa ekki að öllu leyti gengið í takt í rannsóknum sínum, viðhorfum og leit að skýringum á málbreytingum. Hér er róið á mið beggja þessara hópa, reynt að tvinna saman frekar en skilja að. Af þessum sökum er víða komið við í fræðilegri umfjöllum um málbreytingar, stiklað á stóru frekar en að kafa djúpt í einstök atriði. Þannig fæst mynd af víðfeðmi þessa rannsóknarsviðs þó að margra þátta sé ógetið.Abstract: The research project Mál á mannsævi (“Language in a lifetime”) focuses on the development of four variables or pairs of phonological variants in Icelandic, where one member of each pair is regional. There are two variants from North Iceland, so-called hard speech (“harðmæli” in Icelandic) which is characterized by aspirated stops after a long vowel in words like api, [a:pʰɪ] (‘monkey’), aka, [a:kʰa] (‘drive’), éta, [jɛ:tʰa] (‘eat’), which contrasts with soft speech (“linmæli”), lacking such aspiration. Then there is voiced pronunciation (“raddaður fram-burður”) with voiced sonorants before an aspirated stop in forms like hempa, [hɛmpʰa] (‘cassock’), vanta, [vantʰa] (‘need’), hjálpa, [çaulpʰa] (‘help’). In voiceless pronunciation (“óraddaður framburður”) the sonorants are unvoiced and the stops unaspirated. The variants soft speech and voiceless pronunciation are used by the majority in Iceland. From the south-eastern region there are also two variants. The hv-pronunciation (“hv-framburður”) in words like hvalur, [xa:lʏr̥] (‘whale’) has a voiceless velar fricative [x] in initial position, as opposed to the more common kv-pronunciation (“kv-framburður”) with [khv] in this position. Then there is the monophthongal pronunciation (“skaftfellskur einhljóða¬framburður”) which is a traditional name for long vowels in words like bogi, [pɔ:jɪ] (‘bow’), stigi, [stɪ:jɪ] (‘ladder’), as opposed to the more common diphthongal pronunciation (“tvíhljóða¬framburður”). The development of these variables is examined from different points of view. The descriptive goal is to find out how the frequency and distribution of each regional variant has changed since the first half of the 20th century. The theoretical goal is twofold: To determine the effect of the different forces that can influence linguistic changes in a speech community and to shed a general light on language change in individuals during their lifespan. The materials consist of three studies on pronunciation that were conducted over a 70-year period. The first two – a study by Björn Guðfinnsson in the 1940s, and Research on Phonological Variation in Modern Icelandic (acronym: RÍN, “Rannsókn á íslensku nútímamáli”) from the 1980s – were extensive. They offer detailed information on the development of the variables, especially because an examination of Guðfinnsson’s data has revealed that the results can be interpreted more accurately now than was previously possible. The development is studied by focusing on the different linguistic characteristics of the variants on the one hand and by examining sociolinguistic and social factors such as speakers’ attitudes towards the variants and the varying developments of the society in the relevant areas on the other. Thus, the study considers a broad range of internal and external factors in formulating an explanation. Work began on the last study in 2010, Linguistic Change in Real Time in the Phonology and Syntax of Icelandic (acronym: RAUN, “Málbreytingar í rauntíma í íslensku hljóðkerfi og setningagerð”). With this addition to the earlier studies we can see the continuation of previous developments, but in some ways that image will be less clear than in the earlier period. However, RAUN offers so-called real-time analysis because individuals who participated in it were previously among the participants in Guðfinnsson’s study and/or RÍN. This material is used to view language change over the course of a lifetime from various perspectives and answer questions regarding these pronunciation variants but also has a more general value. The question is why some of the regional variants recede faster than others in the course of a lifetime. To what extent are linguistic factors and to what extent are social forces involved? Thus, the study seeks to shed some light on the nature of such lifetime changes, how responsive the language system is to changes in adulthood, and what forces are at work. Because of this broad perspective, no single hypothesis or model of language change guides the journey in the study, and an important goal is to demonstrate the importance of not confining yourself to a narrow perspective. Underlying is the view that some kind of a bridge is needed between sociolinguists and generativists as they often use very different methods in their research and search for clarification of linguistic change. For this reason, the theoretical discussion about language change is wide-ranging, covering many topics, rather than delving deeply into a narrow area. We then gain a view of the breadth of this field of research, even though many factors go unmentioned. The conclusions of the study are multifarious. One can, for example, detect an interesting concordance between urbanisation and economic development on the one hand and dialectical changes on the other, particularly in northern Iceland where these links could be studied in detail. The study also revealed an unexpected development of hard speech in later years, and there is an argument that the social status of this variant has changed or is changing. This local variant is fading but at the same time shows signs of strengthening during a lifetime in much the same way as “clear speech” (skýrmæli). Then it is argued that lifespan changes are more frequent earlier in life and that linguistic factors can influence the diffusion of language change. An important result is the fact that the coexistence of two variants of the same variable can have different effects on the linguistic environment depending on the nature of their differences. In some instances the differences are arguably rule-governed or regular, e.g. the difference between the voiced and voiceless pronunciation of the sonorants in words like hempa, vanta and hjálpa mentioned above. In other cases the differences are lexical, as the difference between the hv-and kv-pronunciation of words like hver ‘geyser’, where the kv-pronunciation makes hver homophonous with kver ‘booklet’, creating a confusing linguistic environment for those acquiring language in an area where both hv- and kv-pronunciaion exist. This difference in linguistic environment can lead to one change being more resilient than another for both new generations and adult speakers, or even for one of the groups and not the other. The general conclusion of the thesis is therefore that the diffusion of language change is subject to both social and linguistic forces, which sometimes amplify one another