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Emergent cross-ethnic varieties and linguistic innovation in European metropolises

This research explores the origins and vitality of "Multicultural London English" in European metropolises, focusing on the temporal and lifespan trajectory of the variety. The study investigates the emergence, acquisition, and diffusion of this new linguistic variety, examining its characteristics, spread, changes over time, and potential effects of home language. The research design includes phonological and grammatical analysis, perception tests, and interviews with individuals of different ages, genders, ethnic backgrounds, and linguistic backgrounds.

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Emergent cross-ethnic varieties and linguistic innovation in European metropolises

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  1. Emergent cross-ethnic varieties and linguistic innovation in European metropolises Organisers: Paul Kerswill, Eivind Torgersen, Jenny Cheshire, Sue Fox & Arfaan Khan

  2. The temporal and lifespan trajectory of ‘Multicultural London English’ as a clue to its origins and vitality Paul Kerswill1, Eivind Torgersen1, Jenny Cheshire2,Sue Fox2 & Arfaan Khan2 Lancaster University1 Queen Mary, University of London2

  3. Linguisticinnovators: the English of adolescents in London (2004–7)PI Paul Kerswill, CI Jenny CheshireRA1 Eivind Torgersen, RA2 Sue Fox • Multicultural London English: the emergence, acquisition and diffusion of a new variety (2007–10)PI Paul Kerswill, CI Jenny CheshireRA1 Eivind Torgersen, RA2 Sue Fox, RA3 Arfaan Khan • Analysis of spoken London English using corpus tools (2008)PI Eivind Torgersen, CI Paul KerswillRA Costas Gabrielatos E· S· R· C ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

  4. Change patterns in London English • Linguistic innovation in inner London • Limited spread of features to outer London • London English is diverging from the rest of the south-east

  5. Research questions MLE project • Characterisation of the ‘multiracial vernacular’ of London: is it ethnically neutral? • Are there differences between areas within London? • How does it spread? • Is it changing? • Is it age-graded? • Are there effects of home language?

  6. Project design: MLE project • 4, 8, 12, 17 year olds and adults • North London • female, male • “Anglo” and “non-Anglo” • Free interviews in pairs • Phonological and grammatical analysis • Perception tests

  7. Traditional Cockney system • Diphthong shift • FACE [æɪ], PRICE [ɑɪ tack up], GOAT [ɐʊ] • Pre-south-eastern vowel shift • FOOT [ʊ], GOOSE [u plus signː], DRESS [e],TRAP [æ], STRUT [ɐ] • H-dropping

  8. Levelled system in south-east England • Un-shifted diphthongs (RP-type) • FACE [ɛɪ], PRICE [aɪ], GOAT [əʊ] • South-eastern vowel shift • FOOT [ɵ], GOOSE [ʉː], DRESS [ɛ], TRAP [a], STRUT [ʌ] • ‘Milton Keynes’ GOAT [ɵʏ] • Fronted GOOSE [ʏː] • Reduction in H-dropping

  9. The south-eastern vowel shift Elderly speakers Teenagers

  10. Diphthong plots here

  11. Complicating factor: ethnicity • Extensive dialect and language contact in London • Non-UK varieties of English • L2 varieties of English • Other languages • Different processes at different stages • Distinct and separate varieties at the beginning • Code-switching • Crossing

  12. ‘Creole’ and ‘London’ varieties by speakers of Jamaican background (1983) ‘Creole’ variety ‘London’ variety

  13. London data (1983) • Possible origins of MLE-features • GOAT [oː], FACE [eː] • Not found in 1983 data • Heavily fronted GOOSE [yː] • Several vowel qualities in ‘creole’ variety not found in current MLE (LOT, TRAP, PRICE, MOUTH, GOOSE) • Today: some parents speak creole at home, children don’t speak creole

  14. Add 4 yr old plots

  15. Development in vowel system 8 year olds 12 year olds Teenagers (2008) Teenagers (2005)

  16. Timeline of MLE acquisition • The 8 and 12 year olds are more ‘levelled’ • General south-eastern GOAT [əʊ],not monophthongal [oː] • Not extreme GOOSE fronting • Not raised FACE • Development of MLE-features after the age of 12 as members of multicultural friendship groups • Full set of features at the age of 16-17

  17. Is MLE a single variety? (1) • Similarities in vowel systems between teenagers in the two London projects (Hackney and North London) • Spoken regardless of ethnic background (non-Anglo speakers in particular) • Perception test • Listeners have problems identifying non-Anglo speakers’ ethnic background

  18. a couple of perception test graphs

  19. Conclusions • Spectrum of varieties • taking ‘new’ features we discussed earlier • Plus general south-eastern consonants, especially th-fronting, r-labiodentalisation and t-glottalling • Wholesale reinstatement of /h/ • Acquisition through childhood to adolescence • Evidence of Labovian ‘adolescent peak’, given extreme heterogeneity of the ‘speech community’, with children acquiring English in ways not easily accounted for in the Labovian model

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