Nicole 319 Response Paper

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Oct 30, 2023

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SOUND CHANGES OVER INDIVIDUAL LIFESPAN Running Head: SOUNDS CHANGES OVER INDIVIDUAL LIFESPAN Exploring Changes in Particular Sounds over Individual Lifespans: A Critical Analysis of Two Longitudinal Studies Nicole Cuason University of British Columbia 2022 Winter LING 319 Historical Linguistics Response Paper Student ID: 17435504 Instructor: Gunnar Hannson

SOUNDS CHANGES OVER INDIVIDUAL LIFESPAN 1 Exploring Changes in Particular Sounds over Individual Lifespans: A Critical Analysis of Two Studies It has long since been hypothesized that sounds change as time passes, and individuals adapt to newer pronunciations as they emerge in a certain community (Harrington et al., 2000, p. 63). Such changes can include the modification of vowels and the appearance of a more informal expression (Harrington et al., 2000, p. 63; Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 560). Through an explanation of the methodology, results, and limitations presented in two sources, this analysis agrees that changes are possible and evident over the lifespan of an individual including adults from the following areas: first, the empirical connection to mainstream pronunciation; second, the clear influence of socioeconomic class; third, an agreement across different studies and regions. To begin with, the change in sounds can be traced to alterations in mainstream pronunciation and social movement (Harrington et al., 2000, p. 74). Such a change calls into question the effectiveness of apparent-time studies, which assumes that language is acquired early and undergoes little change into adulthood (Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 561, 582). Both studies by Harrington et al. (2000, p. 73-74) and Sankoff and Blondeau (2007, p. 562) concur that any phonetic variable in a language can be modified as a speaker becomes older. The first paper examines the Queen’s vowels and their accentation over three distinct periods of Christmas broadcasts (1950s, 60, 80s); they discover an assimilation of her speaking towards a more mainstream form of Received Pronunciation [hereinafter, RP], a standard form of educated speech in southern England (Harrington et al., 2000, p. 75). Sankoff and Blondeau (2007) proposes a similar trend, showing users in Montreal, especially the younger ones, switching categorically to a more “innovative” form of [R] (p. 576). This might have been influenced by an association of the older [r] sound to a conversative form of speech, and younger speakers tend to use the sound only for exaggeration or entertainment purposes

SOUNDS CHANGES OVER INDIVIDUAL LIFESPAN 2 (Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 577). As these speakers grow older, they teach the newer sound to the next generation as well; longitudinal trend and panel studies in Montreal have supported this, as well as a comparison of the Queen’s broadcasts and communal RP vowels depicting a strong correlation between the two as time passes (Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 577-579; Harrington et al., 2000, p. 74). Harrington et al. (2000, p. 75-75) presents two potential alternatives in response to their conclusions: a biological change affecting pronunciation as a person ages; the connotation and context of spoken messages. Both are refuted as the evidence available in these literature point towards the opposite direction of change. This allows the argument to return to a social explanation, where an environmentally induced learning curve is more credible, although the change does vary amongst individuals depending on their familial circumstances (Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 572-577; Harrington et al., 2000, p. 67). Moving onto the apparent authority of social class on acoustic changes, Harrington et al. (2000, p. 64) introduces with official broadcasters in the United Kingdom being required to modify their accents towards a more reputable version (as mentioned above, RP). This requirement is partly to defend the traditional form of English and partly to showcase prestige (Harrington et al., 2000, p. 64-65). The study by Sankoff and Blondeau (2007) largely agrees with social advancement as a factor, citing multiple cases of accent innovation as a result of attaining better prospects (p. 572-574). It is intriguing to see people who defy the assumption of apparent-time studies, which underestimates the malleability of adult speech past their adolescent stage, and completely adapt to the spoken language in a different class. Although the speaker will maintain some variability in speaking, he or she will lean towards the characteristics of upper class members for easier assimilation (Sankoff & Blondeau, 2007, p. 573). The results of their study are associated with this instability in change, yet it is overall evident. This is particularly comparable to people who have just entered a new workplace. It

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