r vocalization
In the yard, not too far from the car
A favorite scene from Jaws. I feel like this is a really interesting example of indexicality. Brody and Ellen are clearly aware of (r)-0 in coda position, though they probably wouldn't call it that, and they seem to have some idea of what it indexes and joke about that with each other.
The Rhoticity (and Lack Thereof) of English Accents
Play videoA brief explanation of the difference between rhotic /r/ and not rhotic /r/ as explained through different accents of English.
Bernie Sanders' accent, explained
Play videoThis video briefly explains some aspects of the New York accent, such as r-dropping and vowel raising. It also goes over how the New York accent is strongest in the working class, how movies have stigmatized the accent, and how young people are much less likely than older New Yorkers to have these features in their speech. I think this ties nicely into our discussion of the Labov and Mather because it discusses the general trend away from the New York accent that may be occurring.
erhua as a morpheme
A question about the usage of erhua in a morphological context instead of in the phonological context, asking if there are examples of times when it can be used to differentiate one word from another.
A reply to the message gives some examples of it, and a second reply gives a description of an encounter the author had about perceptions of what erhua is according to native Chinese speakers not from the Beijing area. [Published on 05-19-2015]
Beijing speech meme
"When you speak Chinese after a week in Beijing" - to complement the Zhang paper.
Instructional Video on Beijing Dialect
Play videoThis video is part of an instructional course on speaking "Beijing Dialect", presented by a young man with background music. This video focuses on a specific rhotacized word, but the presenter uses rhotacized speech throughout the video. I think this relates to our reading on rhoticity as relating to a "smooth" characteristic that goes in hand with other character traits to form a "smooth" persona.
Jesse Williams' Speech (BET Awards 2016)
Play videoPopular speech upon receiving the BET Humanitarian award. Example of black preacher style by biracial speaker.
The Newest 'Grey's Anatomy' Hunk, Jesse Williams
Play videoJesse William's interview with Ellen on the Ellen Show in 2010, marking usage of African American Language.
Southern Dialect Pt. 1
Play videoStudy of Southern accents - rhotic or “r” pronouncing Mountain Southern, and non-rhotic or “r” dropping Plantation or Tidewater Southern.
Flight of the Conchords - He may be Dead
Play videoNew Zealand DRESS-raising causes a misunderstanding.
Vocal Fry still an issue
In this video the Kardashians use vocal fry by using words such as "like" and a higher pitched tone like the "valley girl" voice. In society media sometimes stereotypes girls as being materialistic, self absorbed, sassy, etc. The Kardashians are very popular with society and when they talk like this on television I think it gives society a sort of realization that women really do talk and act like that. This is not the case however, but I think we all know that. The Kardashians are very influential to young women in America and could potentially have vocal fry being used more frequently in the U.S. It also seems that the Kardashians have more layed back tones when at home but when in public it seems their style of speaking and tone of voice changes slightly. [Published on 03-12-2017]
Clinton's drawl, Trump's 'yuuge' N.Y. accent and campaign 'code-switching'
The article discusses several politicians' adressee-based style shifting while speaking to different groups of people. Gives an example of monophthongization from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama using elements of AAE. The article also talks about differences between the styles of Jeb Bush and George W. Bush. [Published on 03-05-2016]
Bernie Sanders' Accent
A description of Bernie Sanders' accent. Includes brief discussions of vowel-raising and vocalization of r in New York City English, as well as of terminal t enunciation, which is linked to Jewish dialects of English. The decline in New York City English usage over time and its usage as linked to socioeconomic status are also discussed (compare with Labov, William. 1972. Language in the Inner City.; and Mathers, Patrick-André. 2012. The social stratification of /r/ in New York City: Labov's department store study revisited). [Published on 02-18-2016]
Problems with Labov's Department Store Study
This comic plays with a potential problem in Labov's department store RA study.
Acrolectal Trinidadian English
Play videoIn this video of The Culinary Institute of America, a Trinidadian demonstrates how to make a traditional Trinidadian dish: Callaloo. It's interesting because the chef produces features (such as th-fortition, non-rhoticity, consonant cluster deletion, and Trinidadian intonation), but also variant use of superstratal features such as plurality and past tense marker (ie dice pumpkin instead of diced pumpkin).
Speech Accent Archive: Boston
Play audioA speaker from Boston (English21) from the George Mason's Speech Accent archive. She is a 37 year old female.
Common: The People
Play videoThe music video for Common's song "The People," in the rapper uses many features of African American English.
American Tongues: Tough Guy from Boston's North End
Play videoAn excerpt from the documentary American Tongues profiling speakers from the North End of Boston.
In Walsh, students of Bostonese have found their avatah
A 2013 article on Boston mayor-elect Marty Walsh, who has a pronounced Boston accent. The comments about Boston being "lazy" are unfortunate, as are the interviews with speech coaches.
Joke about /r/-vocalization in New England accents -- Family Guy
Play videoA short clip from the program Family Guy where Lois and the family discuss the organization PETA, much to Peter's dismay.
Why do British Singers sound American?
A 2013 Slate article about the continuing trend for British pop singers to adopt American pronunciation when singing, including the use of /r/ vocalization. Peter Trudgill's work on the Beatles is cited.
The Disappearing New Yawk Accent
A 2013 podcast from the show "Lexicon Valley" on Slate, profiling the change in progress for /r/ vocalization in New York City English.
Good Will Hunting
Play videoA clip of the bar scene from the movie Good Will Hunting. Actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are both native Bostonians and utilize many features of Boston English.
FDR's Inaguaural Speech and /r/ - Fear Itself
Play videoAn example of FDR's /r/less, upper class New York City variety. An interesting spot to look at r vocalization, as the iconic phrase "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" includes two coda /r/ environments that we don't expect to vocalize, given that they are intervocalic.
(r) in New York City English
(Enlarge image)The classic graph from Labov (1966) showing stratification by socioeconomic class and speaker style for coda r vocalization in New York City English
r-vocalization in Boston English
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