ThesisPDF Available

Salience in New Orleans English

June 2024

DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.25644.68489

Thesis for: PhD
Advisor: Bernd Kortmann, Christian Mair

Authors:

University of Freiburg

This PhD dissertation focuses on three sociophonetic features of New Orleans English: the PIN~PEN merger, /l/-vocalization, and /aɪ/-monophthongization. Through a methodological framework that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, including fieldwork and sociophonetic analysis, this study contributes to the broader understanding of urban dialect formation and change. Aside from describing a number of salient sociophonetic features, the thesis seeks to determine the most optimal methodological tools to measure these features meticulously, testing both traditional and novel approaches. Moreover, the study delves into the contrasts in linguistic patterns between urban and suburban settings by utilizing two datasets: one from the city of New Orleans and one from a nearby suburban neighborhood, Chalmette.

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Preprint

/aɪ/-Monophthongization in New Orleans English

September 2023

Dana Serditova

This chapter is dedicated to /aɪ/-monophthongization in New Orleans English. /aɪ/-monophthongization is a prominent and salient feature in the US South (Tillery 1992; Fridland 2003, 2012, Anderson 2008). The Euclidean distance and Trajectory Length are the primary measures used for a comprehensive analysis of the feature. Linear mixed models are utilized to test whether certain social and ... [Show full abstract] phonetic factors have any effect on /aɪ/-monophthongization. Unsurprisingly, women have been proven to have longer Trajectory Length (TL) for /aɪ/ than men. At the same time, older speakers in the area turned out to be more diphthongal as well, which was an unexpected result. As for the manner and place of articulation, stops as a following environment conditioned shorter TL. Labiodentals and velars as places of articulation were also associated with the shortest TL. Voiceless consonants were shown to be a less favorable environment for /aɪ/-monophthongization than the voiced ones. Initial context also pre-conditioned longer TLs and, therefore, more diphthongal realizations of /aɪ/. Duration — both separately and in interaction with the manner and place of articulation — was examined as well and displayed a significant impact. In terms of the urban vs. suburban dynamic, it was surprising to see that the speakers from a suburban neighborhood of Chalmette showed longer TL values than the speakers from urban New Orleans. A possible explanation for this is the relative homogeneity and isolation of Chalmette, as well as the fact that it formed as a result of the “white flight” and is, in fact, largely populated by people with an urban background. The chapter concludes with a lexical review, showing the most common words based on TL values, as well as an overview of some separate cases of raw formant trajectories.

Preprint

Pin-Pen Merger in New Orleans English

July 2023

Dana Serditova

This chapter is dedicated to the pin-pen merger in New Orleans English. An overview of the phonetic environments that most strongly condition the merger is provided, and the impact of social factors such as age, gender, ethnoracial affiliation, and education is examined. The use of Bhattacharyya scores to measure overlap is demonstrated, positioning this method as more advantageous for describing ... [Show full abstract] the merger than alternative measures like Pillai scores or Euclidean distance. Linear mixed models are used to test the effects of the social and phonetic parameters mentioned above. Finally, predicted scores are given for each category.

Poster

Full-text available

Poster: Pin-Pen Merger in New Orleans English

October 2023

Dana Serditova

The pin-pen merger is a salient feature in the US South that has been receding in urban centers throughout the region and losing its prestige (Austen 2020). This poster will present an analysis of the current state of the merger in New Orleans. An overview of the phonetic environments that most strongly condition the merger will be provided, and the impact of social factors such as age, gender, ... [Show full abstract] ethnoracial affiliation, and education will be examined. The use of Bhattacharyya scores to measure overlap will be demonstrated, positioning this method as more advantageous for describing the merger than alternative measures like Pillai scores or Euclidean distance. Linear mixed models will be used to test the effects of the social and phonetic parameters mentioned above. Finally, predicted scores will be given for each category.

Poster

Full-text available

The Speech of Creoles in New Orleans and its Social Meaning

November 2023

Dana Serditova

The definition of a "creole" language-wise is well-known to linguists. In terms of ethnoracial affiliation, many recognize Creoles as individuals of European descent born in the West Indies or French/Spanish America. As a city in one of the U.S. Gulf states, New Orleans has a Creole population as well, but its composition is complex and has been a matter of discussion for over a century. Martinez ... [Show full abstract] and LeCorgne (1986: 16-17) describe Creoles as "descendants of the French and Spanish colonists of New Orleans", a definition that later broadened "to describe anything owned by or associated with the Creoles". Other authors, like Ron Cassidy (2011), leave the job of inspecting the derivation to "the dry academics" and only explain the stages that the term has gone through. What adds to the complexity of the definition is the fact that in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century the term was politicized, leading to distinctions between "white" and "black" Creoles (Domínguez 1986: 14). This politicization not only altered its interpretation but also layered the term with deep-seated social meaning, reflecting the intricate dynamics of identity and heritage. In this poster, I examine the speech of Creoles in New Orleans across three features: /l/-vocalization, the pin-pen merger, and /aɪ/-monophthongization. Using linear mixed models, I demonstrate that the Creoles’ realization of the given features, with the exception of /aɪ/-monophthongization, deviates from that of both Black and White New Orleanians. I delve into the historical and cultural implications of this phenomenon and what it means to be Creole from a sociolinguistic and sociocultural perspective. I argue that the unique realization of these features carries social meaning and is a clear demonstration of Creoles' identity. Key discussion points include the practice of plaçage, the standing of Creoles in New Orleans society, and the racial dynamics between the Black community, White Creoles, and Creoles of Color. Additionally, I present excerpts from my interviews with Creoles of New Orleans and their definitions of the concept, and juxtapose these with the perspectives of non-Creole White New Orleanians. By intertwining quantitative linguistic analysis of the features with qualitative insights from these interviews, I attempt to elucidate the unique position of Creoles in New Orleans' linguistic, cultural, and social landscape. References: Cassidy, Ron. (2011). Let the Good Times Roll: The Story of New Orleans. Manchester: Brookfield's Publishing. Domínguez, Virginia R. (1986). White by Definition: Social Classification in Creole Louisiana. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. Martinez, Elsie and Margaret LeCorgne. (1986). Uptown/Downtown: Growing Up in New Orleans. Lafayette, LA: University of Southwestern Louisiana.