Being located at the fringes of England, at the course of the Scottish border, the North-East is often perceived as distinct from other English regions. Thus, this region has developed its unique local identity which is essentially borne by the distinctiveness of the spoken traditional dialect - Geordie. Despite its wide regional prevalence, the dialect’s identifiability aspects are especially rooted in the urban area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here, influencing factors such as football, a strong communal spirit, and recent media presentations have shaped the local patriotism as well as the identification with the spoken Tyneside English. However, the intense local language identification as an authentic “Geordie from the toon” has also been accompanied by a proceeding dialect levelling in the same area. These ambiguous circumstances arouse a sociolinguistic interest in a closer examination of the development, identification and perception of the Geordie dialect. How does the dialect contribute to the local identity? And does the local dialect levelling correlate with a changed attitude towards Geordie?
In order to provide a suitable approach to the raised issue, the outline of this work is structured as follows: The theoretical part will discuss i.a. a brief classification of the terminology “Geordie” (2.1), its historical background (2.2) as well as the phonological features of Tyneside English (3.1). Subsequently, the third chapter will focus on dialect levelling and diffusion in the area of Newcastle. Dominic Watt’s empirical study on FACE and GOAT vowels serves as an illustration for contact-induced levelling in the Tyneside vowel system (3.2). Hereby, further aspects such as gender and social class will extend the reflection of a “Geordie identity”. Taking these points into account, the current status of Geordie, its reputation in the United Kingdom (4.) as well as an outlook on the future of the dialect are presented towards a final conclusion (5.).
Table of Contents
1. Intodruction
2. Theoretical Part
2.1 Terminology - Speaking Geordie vs. Being a Geordie
2.2 Historical background
2.3 Dialect contact on Tyneside
2.4 Dialect levelling and diffusion
3. Linguistic Main Part
3.1 Phonetic features of Tyneside English
3.2 Case study by Watt: “levelling in the Tyneside vowel system”
3.2.1. Results of the study
4. Geordie nowadays - a beloved underdog among British accents?
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the sociolinguistic development, identity, and social perception of the Geordie dialect. It explores how historical shifts and dialect contact have shaped the Tyneside variety, investigates phonetic characteristics, and analyzes the evolving reputation of Geordie in the United Kingdom.
- Historical development and etymology of the term Geordie.
- Phonetic characteristics and the role of the Northumbrian burr.
- Analysis of dialect levelling and koineization in the Tyneside vowel system.
- Social perception and the changing prestige of the Geordie accent.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Case study by Watt: “levelling in the Tyneside vowel system”
In this section, the lexical sets of FACE and GOAT will be examined concerning their distribution on the Tyneside. Watt’s study on contact-induced levelling in the Tyneside vowel system serves as the basis for this examination.
In order to provide a detailed analysis basis of the above-mentioned variables’ distribution, in total 32 recordings of adult speakers from N. - Chapelhouse and N. - Newbiggin Hall were evaluated. These have been divided into categories regarding their social status (working class - middle class); age (young - old) as well as the speaker’s sex (male - female). An equal number of male and female speakers has been recorded. The recordings took place at the speakers’ home and contained a number of 200 items. Mainly, Watt’s study focused on social factors such as the dialect contact and the mixing of Tyneside English’s formation.
For the comprehension of the FACE and GOAT vowels’ variation, it is necessary to examine the link between the social changes and the levelling patterns in closer detail. In the table below, three phonetic variants of FACE and four variants of GOAT are portrayed.
Summary of Chapters
1. Intodruction: Presents the central research questions regarding Geordie identity and the sociolinguistic impact of dialect levelling in the Newcastle area.
2. Theoretical Part: Establishes terminology, historical background, dialect contact, and the theoretical framework of dialect levelling and diffusion.
3. Linguistic Main Part: Details specific phonetic features of Tyneside English and examines empirical data on vowel shifts.
4. Geordie nowadays - a beloved underdog among British accents?: Discusses the current status and reputation of the dialect within the UK, considering media influence and local identity.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes findings on the dialect's evolution, its role in regional identification, and its future as a distinct yet adapting voice.
Keywords
Geordie, Tyneside English, Dialect Levelling, Sociolinguistics, Phonetics, Northumbrian Burr, Identity, Koineization, Regional Accent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Vowel System, Language Change, Social Marker, British Accents, Industrialization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the sociolinguistic landscape of the Geordie dialect, focusing on its historical development, distinct phonetic features, and its evolving role in identity construction within the Tyneside region.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the impact of industrialization on regional dialects, dialect contact with Scottish Lowland varieties, the process of dialect levelling, and the social perception of Geordie in modern Britain.
What is the core research question?
The research investigates how the Geordie dialect contributes to local identity and whether local dialect levelling correlates with a changing societal attitude towards the dialect.
Which methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a combination of historical analysis and the interpretation of empirical sociolinguistic data, specifically referencing Dominic Watt's study on FACE and GOAT vowel levelling.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers specific phonetic particularities like glottalization, the Northumbrian burr, and a detailed case study on vowel realizations across different social groups.
Which keywords define this work?
Central keywords include Geordie, Tyneside English, dialect levelling, sociolinguistics, phonetics, and regional identity.
How does the author explain the term "Geordie"?
The author distinguishes between Geordie as a linguistic term for the accent and dialect of Tyneside, and "Being a Geordie" as a marker of local social and cultural identity.
Why is the "Northumbrian burr" considered important?
It is identified as the most striking phonetic marker of Geordie identity, carrying both a history of negative stigmatization and a sense of regional pride for local residents.
How do media and celebrities influence the dialect's reputation?
The paper argues that modern media, TV formats, and local celebrities have helped transform the perception of Geordie from a stigmatized industrial variety to one of Britain's most popular and distinct accents.
What does the case study conclude about vowel changes?
It concludes that there is an ongoing process of supralocal koineization, where traditional diphthongs are being replaced by monophthongs or more standardized forms, led particularly by younger and middle-class speakers.
- Citation du texte
- Sebastian Nickel (Auteur), 2017, The Geordie Dialect. On Language Identity and the Social Perception of Tyneside English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/444885
