American Speech current issue

CONTRIBUTORS' COLUMN

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

LOCALIZED PATTERNS FOR GLOBAL VARIANTS: THE CASE OF QUOTATIVE SYSTEMS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO SPEAKERS

KOHN, M. E., FRANZ, H. A. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

This study explores quotative system norms within Latino communities and African American communities in two cities in North Carolina, Durham and Hickory, to identify how social and ethnic distribution intersects with regional distribution in such systems. Quotative frames were transcribed from sociolinguistic interviews conducted with 35 Latino and 27 African American participants between the ages of 9 and 21. The quotative verb form and the tense, person, and content of the quotation were analyzed as a basis for examining its distribution. Correlating Latino participants' length of residency in the United States to quotative usage provided insight into the possible effect of second-language acquisition on quotative systems. Quotative be like was found to be grammaticalized as a reporter of direct speech and thought in all communities and was favored in the first person for the Latino speech communities, mirroring prior studies of Anglo communities. Results indicate that Latino and African American quotative systems are aligning with other systems identified in the United States with respect to the types of verbal quotatives used and content constraints, though each group and region varies in the application of previously observed constraints.

T-GLOTTALIZATION IN AMERICAN ENGLISH

EDDINGTON, D., TAYLOR, M. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

In word-final prevocalic position (e.g., right ankle), there are various possible phonetic realizations of /t/ in American English: [t], [ ], [ ]. The present study focuses on the linguistic and social factors associated with the use of the glottal stop. Data were gathered by having participants repeat sentences they were presented auditorily (e.g., She twisted her right ankle). The particular pronunciation of /t/ in the presented sentences was masked with a tone. Logistic regression analysis identified three significant factors: (1) glottal stops were favored by following front vowels; (2) younger female speakers were most likely to use glottal stops, which may indicate a change in progress; and (3) speakers from the Western United States glottalized more than speakers from other parts of the country.

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE ARMOIRE: LEXICAL VARIATION IN CASE FURNITURE TERMS

BURKETTE, A. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

This article explores the vast amount of lexical variation in case furniture terms found within databases of the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States and the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States as well as more recent picture-elicited survey data from Georgia and Mississippi. The history of case furniture is explored briefly in order to highlight the origins of some of the lexical variation found within the data. Also discussed is the larger issue of the general pattern of lexical variation. The variation itself is addressed as the responses to the Linguistic Atlas bureau/dresser question and wardrobe question are examined more closely as well as the data from the Georgia and Mississippi picture surveys.

AMONG THE NEW WORDS

BARRETT, G. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP IN ALABAMA

EBLE, C. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

A SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND LINGUISTIC LOOK AT YOUNG CHOLAS

NUSINOV, V. T. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT

YOU, TOO, CAN BE A FUNCTIONING LINGUIST

PFREHM, J. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:35:28 PDT