In which way and why is there a difference in pronunciation between male and female speakers of Southern American English?
When researching Southern American English, it becomes quite obvious, that there is no common and typical standard Southern pronunciation and thus the quote seems to be valid. Nevertheless one can determine certain overall pronunciation features when listening to speakers of Southern American English.
“Southern American English pronunciation differs from region to region, even from person to person, because speakers from different circumstances in and different parts of the United States commonly employ regional and social features to some extent even in formal situations”, William A. Kretzschmar Junior proclaimed in the Mouton textbook of Varieties of English (In: Schneider, 2008, p. 37).
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Southern American English
- Analysis of examples of accented speech
- General analysis
- Comparison of the speakers
- Reasons for differences of speech related to gender
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this study is to investigate the differences in pronunciation between male and female speakers of Southern American English, focusing on the "g-dropping" phenomenon. The research aims to analyze the phonological processes involved and explore potential reasons for any observed differences.
- Variations in Southern American English pronunciation.
- Analysis of "g-dropping" in Southern American English.
- Comparison of "g-dropping" between male and female speakers.
- Exploration of potential reasons for gender-based pronunciation differences.
- Impact of social and regional factors on pronunciation.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the research question: how and why does pronunciation differ between male and female speakers of Southern American English? It sets the context by citing Kretzschmar Jr.'s observation on the diversity of Southern American English pronunciation and then narrows the focus to the "g-dropping" phenomenon, outlining the methodology which involves comparing speech samples from a male and a female speaker of Southern American English against a Standard American English baseline. The chapter clearly articulates the goal of assessing the phonological processes in "g-dropping" and comparing the results across genders to identify potential differences.
Southern American English: This chapter provides background information on Southern American English as a dialect encompassing several sub-dialects across a wide geographical area, from the Delmarva Peninsula to Western Texas. It highlights the significant dialectal diversity within this region due to historical influences and the variation between regions, ages, and ethnic backgrounds of speakers. The chapter also notes the disappearance of certain traditionally Southern dialectal features in urban areas due to urbanization and migration, resulting in rural areas exhibiting these features more prominently. Furthermore, it mentions the widespread recognition—and often negative evaluation—of Southern American English, leading to potential consequences such as negative stereotyping and linguistic discrimination, providing examples of educated speakers with Southern accents, such as former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Analysis of examples of accented speech: This chapter details the analysis of speech samples from a male and a female speaker of Southern American English. Both speakers hailed from a similar rural background in Louisiana, yet differed in their professional roles. The analysis focuses on the pronunciation of the unstressed suffix "-ing," identifying three variations: a voiced velar nasal [ŋ], a syllabic alveolar nasal [n] resulting from progressive assimilation, and potentially other variations not explicitly detailed in the provided text. The chapter would go on to compare the frequency and context of each pronunciation variant between the male and female speakers' speech samples, providing specific examples from the transcriptions (not included in the provided text). This section lays the groundwork for the subsequent chapter by establishing the observable phonetic differences.
Reasons for differences of speech related to gender: This chapter delves into the reasons behind any observed differences in pronunciation between the male and female speakers. This section would analyze social factors, such as the speakers' professions and their respective social roles, potentially linking those factors to the observed pronunciation patterns. The chapter might also consider the influence of age and regional factors as contributing influences, and potentially discuss linguistic theories about gendered speech patterns to support its interpretation of the data. Overall, this section aims to establish plausible explanations for the observed differences in the "-ing" pronunciation, based on the information presented in the previous chapters and supported by linguistic theory.
Keywords
Southern American English, dialect variation, pronunciation, "g-dropping," phonological processes, gendered speech, sociolinguistics, regional variation, linguistic analysis, phonetic transcription.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Southern American English
What is the main focus of this study?
This study investigates the differences in pronunciation between male and female speakers of Southern American English, specifically focusing on the "g-dropping" phenomenon (the pronunciation of the "-ing" suffix).
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include variations in Southern American English pronunciation, analysis of "g-dropping," comparison of "g-dropping" between genders, exploration of reasons for gender-based pronunciation differences, and the impact of social and regional factors on pronunciation.
What is the methodology used in this study?
The study compares speech samples from a male and a female speaker of Southern American English from a similar rural Louisiana background, contrasting them against a Standard American English baseline. The analysis focuses on the pronunciation variations of the "-ing" suffix.
What are the different variations of "-ing" pronunciation identified?
Three variations are identified: a voiced velar nasal [ŋ], a syllabic alveolar nasal [n] (due to progressive assimilation), and potentially others not detailed in the provided text summary.
What aspects of Southern American English are discussed?
The study provides background information on Southern American English as a dialect, highlighting its significant diversity across geography, age, ethnicity, and the impact of urbanization and migration on its features. It also addresses the social perceptions and potential stereotypes associated with the dialect.
How are the speech samples analyzed?
The analysis compares the frequency and context of each "-ing" pronunciation variant between the male and female speakers, using specific examples from transcriptions (not included in this preview).
What factors are considered to explain gender-based pronunciation differences?
The study explores social factors such as the speakers' professions and social roles, age, regional factors, and relevant linguistic theories to explain observed differences in "-ing" pronunciation.
What are the overall objectives of this research?
The objective is to analyze the phonological processes involved in "g-dropping" and explore potential reasons for any observed differences between male and female speakers of Southern American English.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a section on Southern American English, an analysis of accented speech (including general analysis and speaker comparison), and a section on reasons for gender-related speech differences.
What keywords are associated with this study?
Keywords include Southern American English, dialect variation, pronunciation, "g-dropping," phonological processes, gendered speech, sociolinguistics, regional variation, linguistic analysis, and phonetic transcription.
- Quote paper
- Peggy Zawadil (Author), 2012, Differences between Male and Female Pronunciation with Regard to "G-Dropping" in Southern American English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/312203
