Southeastern phonology: consonants

TH

London and Southeastern accents have sociolinguistically variable TH fronting (i.e. the use of [f] and [v] for / θ / and /ð/ , respectively). In these accents, TH fronting can apply to / θ / in all positions (e.g. think, something, mouth) and to /ð/  in non-initial position (e.g. brother, with). In the case of /ð/ in initial position, /d/ (or ø, as in  for and that) are more likely alternatives.

The labio-dental variants have traditionally been socially stigmatized, and therefore tend to be avoided by middle-class speakers. Neither Altendorf (2003) nor Tollfree (1999) found them in the speech of their middle-class informants. However, there are reports that TH fronting is now on the verge of spreading into Southeastern middle-class accents. Williams and Kerswill (1999: 160, Table 8.8) have found instances of TH fronting in male and female middle-class speech in Milton Keynes and male middle-class speech in Reading. In both towns, TH fronting affects sexes and classes in the following order: working-class boys > working-class girls > middle-class boys > middle-class girls. In terms of change in apparent time, this pattern is indicative of a “change from below” in the social sense of the term. It has started in male working-class speech and is now working its way “upwards” to female middle-class speakers. At the moment, this development is still at an early stage. Accordingly, labio-dental fricatives in the speech of female middle-class speakers in Milton Keynes (14.3%) and Reading (0%) are infrequent or altogether absent. This could also explain why they do not occur in the London surveys by Altendorf (2003) and Tollfree (1999).

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

الزائرون يحيون ليلة الجمعة الأولى من شهر رجب في رحاب العتبة العباسية المقدسة

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تحصي خدماتها المقدّمة للزائرين بذكرى شهادة الإمام الهادي (عليه السلام) في سامراء

شعبة فاطمة بنت أسد تجري امتحانات الفصل الأول لطالباتها

من رماد الكتب إلى فضاء الرقمنة.. حكاية حفظ ذاكرة الوطن

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

كنز غذائي على طبقك.. ماذا تفعل السبانخ بجسمك؟

ما لا يتوقعه أحد.. "سر غذائي" في الجبن الدسم

لتحسين الهضم والنوم.. هذا أفضل وقت لتناول العشاء

10 طرق بسيطة وغير مألوفة لحرق المزيد من السعرات يوميا

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

سابقة بعالم الطيران.. طائرة تقرر الهبوط بنفسها بعد ظرف طارئ

"الإنفلونزا الخارقة" تكتسح دول العالم.. وتثير قلقا كبيرا

مرحلة ما قبل الأعراض.. دواء جديد يستهدف "شرارة" الزهايمر

إزالة ثاني أكسيد الكربون من الغلاف الجوي.. ما دور المحيطات والبحار؟

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Spelling and Pronunciation SUMMARY

American English vs. British English

Morphological Basis of English Spelling

Phoneme–Grapheme Correspondences in English Vowels

Phoneme–Grapheme Correspondences in English Consonants

Spelling and Pronunciation Irregularity of English Spelling

Structural Factors in Second Language Phonology SUMMARY

Perception

Optimality Theory (OT)

Ontogeny Phylogeny Model (OPM)

Markedness

Hypercontrast