The paper analyzes the Scottish Standard English vowel and diphthong system and especially the application of Aitken's law and vowel lengthening before postvocalic /r/. The paper includes a brief history of the development of SSE, a detailed discussion of the SSE vowel and diphthong system, the analysis of speakers of SSE (using words from Well's lexical set), and a discussion of vowel lengthening in SSE. Scotland is a region where language experienced many changes in the historical
development. A standard form of English has only been spoken there for roughly three
centuries. Before English was established Celtic languages such as Gaelic and Old Norse
were spoken in most of today’s Scotland. From the 14th century onwards a form of English
deriving from a northern English accent was established in Scotland. This form was called
Scots. Gaelic and Scots both survived until today. Especially Scots had a big influence on
what today is called Scottish Standard English. Due to all the different historical
developments and influences and a strong national consciousness and awareness the Scottish
form of Standard English, which is “pronounced with a Scottish accent and retained a few
scotticisms in vocabulary” (Wells 1995: 394), has attained a status quite unique amongst the
English varieties.
The special phonological system contributes largely to this uniqueness. In SSE one can
find phonetic realizations found nowhere else in other accents of English. One such
phenomenon is the variation of vowel duration according to the phonetic environment. The
rule describing this special feature of Scottish speech is called Aitken’s Law or the Scottish
Vowel Length Rule. This rule was depicted (cf. Trudgill and Hannah 1994, Hansen et al.
1996) as affecting all vowels except /I/ and /V/. Wells (1995: 401) talks about the possibility
that the SVLR might only affect certain vowels for some speakers of SSE. Recent research by
Scobbie et al. (1999), seems to confirm this notion for SSE in general.
The aim of this paper is to give a general overview of the vowel and diphthong system of
SSE followed by a discussion of the ‘classical’ SVLR and the results of the new research.
This is going to be framed by short discussion of the historical development of the languages
spoken in Scotland and by a final speculation of how Scottish speech is going to develop in
the future.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction.
- The History of the Scottish Languages
- Development and Situation in the Past
- Current Language Situation
- Vowel and Diphthong System and SVLR in Scottish Standard English.
- Vowel and Diphthong System for Scottish Standard English...
- The Vowels of Scottish Standard English
- The Diphthongs of Scottish Standard English
- Analysis of Speakers of SSE.
- Aitken's Law
- Current Research on the SVLR...
- Vowel and Diphthong System for Scottish Standard English...
- Future Development.
- Bibliography......
- Outtakes..........\li>
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the vowel and diphthong system in Scottish Standard English (SSE) and examine the "classical" Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR) alongside recent research findings. It will be framed by a brief discussion of the historical development of languages spoken in Scotland and a final speculation on the future evolution of Scottish speech.
- Historical development of languages in Scotland
- Vowel and diphthong system in Scottish Standard English
- The Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR)
- Current research on the SVLR
- Future development of Scottish speech
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of Scottish Standard English and its unique phonological system, highlighting the significance of Aitken's Law or the Scottish Vowel Length Rule in shaping the pronunciation of SSE.
- The History of the Scottish Languages: This section delves into the historical development of languages spoken in Scotland, starting from the earliest documented references and tracing the influence of various Celtic languages, Norse, and English. It covers the period from the pre-Roman era to the 18th century, focusing on the emergence of Scots and its subsequent Anglicisation.
- Development and Situation in the Past: This chapter provides a detailed account of the linguistic landscape of Scotland from the earliest recorded references. It discusses the presence of Celtic languages, the impact of Roman influence, and the arrival of the Angles and Saxons, highlighting the diverse linguistic groups that inhabited the region. The chapter also explores the gradual unification of Scotland under Scottish rule and the influence of the Norman Conquest.
- Current Language Situation: This section focuses on the contemporary state of languages spoken in Scotland, highlighting the dominance of Scottish Standard English and the continuing presence of Scots and Gaelic. It explores the reasons behind the decline of Scots and the rise of SSE, examining the impact of political and social changes.
- Vowel and Diphthong System and SVLR in Scottish Standard English: This chapter dives into the specific characteristics of the vowel and diphthong system in SSE, exploring the various phonetic realizations found in this accent. It also examines Aitken's Law or the Scottish Vowel Length Rule, which governs the variation of vowel duration based on phonetic context.
- Vowel and Diphthong System for Scottish Standard English...: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the vowel and diphthong system in Scottish Standard English, examining the specific vowels and diphthongs used in the accent. It also explores the variations in pronunciation among speakers of SSE.
- The Vowels of Scottish Standard English: This section focuses specifically on the vowels used in Scottish Standard English, providing a comprehensive description of their pronunciation and phonetic characteristics.
- The Diphthongs of Scottish Standard English: This section provides a detailed analysis of the diphthongs used in Scottish Standard English, exploring their phonetic characteristics and variations in pronunciation.
- Analysis of Speakers of SSE.: This section focuses on the variation in pronunciation of vowels and diphthongs among different speakers of Scottish Standard English, highlighting the diverse realizations found in the accent.
- Aitken's Law: This chapter focuses on the Scottish Vowel Length Rule, also known as Aitken's Law, a rule that governs the variation of vowel duration in Scottish Standard English based on phonetic context. It explores the history and application of this rule in shaping the pronunciation of SSE.
- Current Research on the SVLR...: This chapter examines the most recent research findings concerning the Scottish Vowel Length Rule, exploring the current understanding of its application and potential variations among speakers of SSE.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work explores the vowel and diphthong system of Scottish Standard English (SSE), focusing on the historical development of languages in Scotland, the unique phonological features of SSE, particularly Aitken's Law or the Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR), and the ongoing research surrounding this rule. Key terms include Scottish Standard English, Scots, Gaelic, Anglicisation, vowel duration, diphthong, phonetic environment, Aitken's Law, Scottish Vowel Length Rule.
- Quote paper
- Annett Gräfe (Author), 2007, The vowel and diphthong system in scottish standard english, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91909
