LL-L "Phonology" 2005.05.21 (10) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 21.MAY.2005 (10) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Phonology

Folks,

This is a rare event: linguistic news hit the popular, commercial media here
today!  It is most probably because it is of local interest and is seen as a
boost to the Pacific Northwest's endeavor to be special, most importantly to
be different from California (which is an old obsession).

I had not yet heard about the news from within the University of Washington
(Seattle), which is where the news broke.  I first heard a couple of sound
bytes about it in the local TV evening news and then searched the University
news section which directed me to an online copy of an article in the
_Seattle Post Intelligencer_:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/225139_nwspeak20.html

The long and the short of it is that apparently the Northwest does have its
own "accent."  I could have told you that before, but I didn't do the grunge
work to prove it.

Most importantly:

(1) Pairs like "hot" and "hawed" are pronounced with phonetically idental
vowels.

(2) /S/ is pronounced very strongly.

(3) A large percentage of speakers, especially women, use a "creaky" voice
rather than a "breathy" one.

The creaky voice thing is indeed quite noticeable.  I've observed it
developing over the last decade or so, and in my experience it is confined
to people, especially women, under about 35 of age.

I'v e also noticed other newer trends.  Low-stress /au/ (as in "bout")
sounds more "Canadian," e.g., low-stress "about" [(@')bOUt] as opposed to
high-stress [@'baUt].  You can hear this in the sentence "I usually smoke
about half a pack a day..." (http://www.aip.org/149th/half_a_pack22.wav). In
the same sample you will hear an example of the "Canadian shift" in the
words "half" and "pack."

If you are interested, please read the said article and either use the link
the author provides or go to http://www.aip.org/149th/ingle.html for details
and a good number of examples with sound files. It certainly disproves the
oft-touted theory that United States' West Coast has no English dialect
diversity.

I notice the Northwest accent every time I return from California and
British Columbia, though to the novice they may all sound much alike.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

P.S.:
Nicely representative creaky voice examples in sound files:

"Hat"
http://www.aip.org/149th/ab_hat.wav

"This is actually, like, an apartment building. It's weird. We're on the
third floor."
http://www.aip.org/149th/cm_creaky_apartment.wav

" And, I mean, they broke up about five or six times."
http://www.aip.org/149th/ew_creaky.wav

==============================END===================================
Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l")
are  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================