'Phonetic variation in the Douglas and Onchan area of the Isle of Man'

Date(s): 2002

Creator(s): Pressley, Rachel Jane

Scope & Content: PhD thesis submitted to the University of Liverpool, using data collected from the 1996 University of Liverpool study of variation in English on the Isle of man. One part of the study known as 'Recording Mann', involved the university team working with approximately 700 informants from primary and secondary school aged pupils from all parts of the Island. 'Recording Mann' data for Douglas and Onchan areas is used: an examination of current linguistic developments occurring in this area at a time when the Island's population was rapidly changing is used to presents a study of a series of phonetic variables. The thesis concludes that while there remains a significant Scouse influence it is associated mainly with males and with young speakers; older speakers have apparently dropped the more obvious Scouse features of their accents since Barry's fieldwork in the 1950s and 1960s. Nor are some major RP features such as /˄/ e.g. butter and /a:/ e.g. after becoming widespread among young speakers. The accent seems to be developing towards a standardised northern type. Appendices include a list of informants by age, sex, class, social class, relationships between informants and a copy of the questionnaire used.

Language: English

Extent: 1 volume

Item name: thesis

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: MS 13833/30

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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