Question on "anythink"

[Lyle Campbell]

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
My colleague, Elizabeth Gordon, would like to ask if anyone knows about/has
any relevant information concerning the origin and distribution in
varieties of English of a phenonenon found here in New Zealand.
        A common complaint from school teachers in New Zealand is about the
pronunciations of words like 'nothing' and 'anything' as 'nothink' and
'anythink'. 'Nothink' is recorded in NZ  by McBurney in 1887; it appears in
an anonymous list written in 1817  of 'Errors of pronunciation and improper
expressions used frequently and chiefly by inhabitants of London' (quoted
in A.J. Ellis). Are the 'anythink/nothink' forms heard in other places
today? Does anyone have any suggestions about the early history of this
form?  Thanks.
        Send replies directly to Liz (e.gordon at ling.canterbury.ac.nz).
 
Dr. Lyle Campbell (Professor)
Dept. of Linguistics
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Fax:   64-3-364-2969
Phone: 64-3-364-2242