A Sociophonological Approach to Understanding Language Variation in Suffolk

萨福克方言坐落在东安格利亚，是一种完全独特的方言。虽然对这一地区的传统方言研究已经发生(科克里茨，1932)，但自那以来一直严重依赖于SED(1969)和Trudgill(1974)的早期工作。因此，更全面地记录萨福克方言不仅有助于我们了解该县的社会和语言发展，而且还有助于我们对该地区的更深入的了解。根据在全县收集的访谈，我打算通过音系学和社会语言学理论来记录和分析方言数据。社会音韵学方法也将是该区域的一项独特工作，有助于更好地理解语言变化中的社会动机和理论动机之间的联系。根据我在大师级的研究，有几个现象值得研究，包括元音平滑、元音中和、韵母下降和合并以及声门化。然而，由于数据分析将以自然对话数据为指导，因此在数据收集之后将考虑变量进行分析。Trudgill(1974)声称，在东盎格鲁英语中存在一种音位制约，即schwa可能是非重读辅音尾音节中存在的唯一元音。这为进一步的方言限制打开了可能性。虽然这样的语言现象可以用理论框架来解释，比如最优化理论，但我希望探索另一种框架来证明语言变异。作为一名以这种方言为母语的人，我不仅对这一领域有着深刻的理解和浓厚的兴趣，而且我在本科和研究生期间都在萨福克进行了实地调研，表现出了强烈的责任感。因此，我已经开始建立一个采访语料库。关于道德方面的考虑，我没有计划采访18岁以下的儿童，我也不打算采访那些被认为是社会中“脆弱”成员的人。因此，对于我需要在低风险环境下进行的其余采访，我只需要获得伦理上的批准。我希望在第一年内完成所有数据收集，届时将确定可行的变量，同时参加会议并完成相关的背景阅读。我的目标是在第二年准备好试点/临时数据。量化的分析方法将使我能够阐明事实，并从数据中发现模式。我还相信，在进行面对面的采访时，我将获得一系列重要的定性信息，以进一步说明我观察到的任何模式。一旦数据分析在第二年完成，我将着手编写完整的分析，并应用理论框架作为我解释数据模式的一部分。因此，我的论文将在三年内完成全职工作。关于培训，我将要求使用统计方案(R)的学费，以及声学方案(如PRAAT)的培训。然而，只有在我的分析中需要特别注意某些声乐模式时，后者才是必要的。

Nestled in East Anglia, the Suffolk dialect is wholly unique. Whilst traditional dialectal studies ofthis area have taken place (Koûkeritz, 1932), there has since been a heavy reliance upon earlierwork from both the SED (1969) and Trudgill (1974). Therefore, a more thorough documentation ofthe Suffolk dialect would contribute, not only to our understanding of the social and linguisticdevelopment of the county, but also provide greater depth of knowledge regarding the region. Informed by interviews collected across the county, I intend to document and analyse spokendialect data through phonological and sociolinguistic theory. A sociophonological approach wouldalso be a unique undertaking in this region and provide a better understanding of the links betweensocio and theoretical motivations in language change. Based on my research at Masters level, there are several phenomena worthy of investigation.These include; vowel smoothing, vowel neutralisation, yod dropping and coalescence, andglottalisation. However, as data analysis will be guided by naturalistic conversational data,variables will be considered for analysis following data collection. Trudgill (1974) claimed that thereis a phonotactic constraint present in East Anglian English stating that the schwa may be the onlyvowel present in an unstressed consonant final syllable. This opens the possibility of further dialectconstraints. Whilst linguistic phenomena such as these can be explained using theoretical frameworks, suchas Optimality Theory, I look to explore alternative frameworks to demonstrate linguistic variation. As a native speaker of the dialect, I not only have a deep understanding and keen interest in thisarea, but I have shown a strong commitment by conducting field research in Suffolk during bothmy undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. I therefore have already begun to build up a corpusof interviews. Regarding ethical considerations, I have no plans to interview children under the age of 18, and Ido not intend to interview those who are considered 'vulnerable' members of society. I thereforewould only require ethical approval for the remaining interviews I need to carry out in low risksettings. I look to complete all data collection within the first year, at which point, viable variables will beidentified, whilst attending conferences and completing the relevant background reading. I aim tohave pilot/provisional data ready to present during year two. A quantitative approach to analysiswill allow me to formulate facts and uncover patterns from the data. I also believe that inconducting face-to-face-interviews, I will acquire a range of important qualitative information tofurther inform any patterns I observe. Once data analysis has been completed in year two, I willembark on writing the full analysis and applying a theoretical framework as part of my explanationof data patterns. As a result, my thesis will be completed within three years working full time. With respect to training, I would require tuition in the use of statistical programmes (R), andtraining in acoustic programmes, such as PRAAT. However, the latter would only be necessary ifcertain vocalic patterns required special attention within my analysis.