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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The History of the Scottish Languages
2.1. Development and Situation in the Past
2.2. Current Language Situation
3. Vowel and Diphthong System and SVLR in Scottish Standard English
3.1 Vowel and Diphthong System for Scottish Standard English
3.1.1 The Vowels of Scottish Standard English
3.1.2 The Diphthongs of Scottish Standard English
3.1.3 Analysis of Speakers of SSE
3.2 Aitken’s Law
3.3 Current Research on the SVLR
4. Future Development
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the vowel and diphthong system within Scottish Standard English (SSE), specifically examining the unique phonological phenomenon known as the Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR) or Aitken’s Law. By framing the linguistic analysis within the historical development of languages in Scotland, the study investigates how current phonological research, including sociolinguistic speaker analysis, challenges or confirms traditional linguistic rules in the face of modern standardizing influences.
- Historical evolution of languages in Scotland and the emergence of SSE.
- Phonological characteristics and distinctions of the SSE vowel and diphthong system.
- In-depth examination and debate surrounding Aitken’s Law (SVLR).
- Sociolinguistic analysis of modern SSE speakers across different regions.
- Future trajectory of Scottish speech patterns in the context of globalization.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1 The Vowels of Scottish Standard English
The vowel system of SSE has fewer vowels than that of other varieties of English (cf. Trudgill, Hannah 1994:95). This fact contributes considerably to the unique pronunciation. Wells (1995:400) states that “the Scottish vowel system is clearly distinct typologically from the vowel system of all other accents of English.” The typical set of vowels occurring in SSE includes /ι, Ι, ε, Ε, α, Ο, ο, ς, υ, Α, ≅ / while /υ/ may even be realised as [}] or even more fronted (cf. Wells 1995:400).
SSE lacks vowel distinctions that can be found in other varieties of English such as RP. Due to this absence of distinction some minimal pairs turn into homophones in SSE. One such pair is pam and palm which are realised as /παµ/. In SSE the RP distinction between /{/ and /Α:/ does not exist instead the vowel in these kind of words is realised as /α/ (cf. Hansen et al. 1996: 72). Another pair of homophones in SSE is pool and pull which are both pronounced as /πυλ/ due to the lack of an distinction between /Υ/ and /υ:/. Instead the vowel in these words is pronunced as /υ/ (cf. ibid.). The last RP distinction that does not exist in SSE is the distinction between /Θ/ and /Ο:/. In words such as cot, caught, lot and thought the vowel is realised as /Ο/. (Cf. Trudgill, Hannah 1994: 95f).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines the scope of the paper, introducing the historical background of Scotland's language shift and the phonetic uniqueness of Scottish Standard English, specifically highlighting the Scottish Vowel Length Rule.
2. The History of the Scottish Languages: Traces the complex development of languages in Scotland from pre-Roman times and the influence of Pictish, Gaelic, and Norse to the emergence of Scots and the eventual rise of Scottish Standard English following the political unions with England.
3. Vowel and Diphthong System and SVLR in Scottish Standard English: Details the specific phonological system of SSE, covering the distinct vowel sets, diphthongs, and an analysis of current speech samples, alongside a thorough technical discussion of Aitken’s Law and recent academic research findings.
4. Future Development: Speculates on the future of Scottish speech, considering the tension between the retention of regional uniqueness and the pressures of globalization and the influence of Southern English varieties like RP.
Keywords
Scottish Standard English, SSE, Aitken’s Law, Scottish Vowel Length Rule, SVLR, Phonology, Vowels, Diphthongs, Rhoticity, Sociolinguistics, Language History, Scotland, Dialect, Phonetic realization, Scots
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the phonological system of Scottish Standard English (SSE), specifically analyzing its unique vowel and diphthong characteristics.
What are the central thematic areas?
The main themes include the historical development of languages in Scotland, the description of the SSE phonological system, and the functionality of Aitken's Law.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to provide an overview of the SSE vowel system, discuss the "classical" interpretation of the Scottish Vowel Length Rule, and integrate results from recent linguistic research.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses historical literature review and a comparative analysis of speech samples from three different Scottish speakers to examine phonological features.
What does the main part cover?
The main body covers the vowel system, the diphthong system, speaker analysis, the mechanics of Aitken's Law, and modern empirical research concerning these rules.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Scottish Standard English (SSE), Aitken’s Law, SVLR, phonology, vowel/diphthong systems, and sociolinguistic variation.
What is the "FOOT-GOOSE Merge" mentioned in the text?
It refers to the lack of a phonemic contrast between the vowels typically associated with "FOOT" and "GOOSE" in many Scottish accents.
How does the author view the future of Scottish English?
The author suggests that while SSE is increasingly influenced by global media and Southern English (like RP), the deep-seated sense of Scottish national identity will likely preserve many of the dialect's unique features.
- Citation du texte
- Annett Gräfe (Auteur), 2007, The vowel and diphthong system in scottish standard english, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91909
