Using knowledge of sociolinguistic ideas on dialects, I will compare and contrast phonological features of regional accents- focusing mainly on the Bristol accent. I will compare the use of both vowel and consonant sound variants within this dialect and consider how differences in other accents likely indicates geographical distance from Bristol, along with noting any similarities present despite different geographical locations.
In terms of vowel sounds, the Bristol accent does not display the [æ] sound used in Received Pronunciation and heard in words like cat [kæt] and camera [kæmrᴧ] (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 77) Instead, the vowel sound [a] would be present in this instance, as well as in words like mat [mat] and happy [hapi]. Similarly, in some Northern accents [a] is expressed in replacement of [æ]. Another distinction within South Western Bristol speech is the use of the central vowel [ə], rather than the back vowel [ᴧ] that is typical of southern speakers. For example, in the rhyming pairs tongue and con, these would be pronounced [təng] and [kən]. Alternatively, speakers in the North of England tend to use the open back vowel [ɒ]. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 55) Contrasting this, another variant is expressed in the Scouse accent- the open-mid, back vowel [ɔ]. Thus the word tongue is pronounced [tɔng]; distinguishing between the vowels in the words tongue and con. This common feature of the Scouse dialect occurs in other words such as took [tɔk] and young [yɔng], where in South Eastern regions- for example in Buckinghamshire- these words would contain the unrounded [ᴧ].
Pronunciation of diphthongs are amongst phonological features distinguishing the Bristol accent from other varieties. A diphthong is the progression of quality from one vowel sound to another within a single syllable, for example [aɪ] in the word height [haɪt]. In the Bristol accent the pronunciation of some diphthongs stretches wider than expressed in other accents; as if the initial vowel of the diphthong sounds further away from the final vowel sound. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 78) For example, the diphthong [ai] in the word light [laɪt] might sound more like [lɒɪt]. Correspondingly, the Bristol accent can be characterised by the elongation of short vowels. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 78) Often words such as pig [pɪg] and sad [sad] sound more lengthened than they would in other regional varieties.
The Bristol accent can be defined also by expression- or absence of- consonant sounds. H-dropping is a distinctive characteristic of the Bristol accent, often noticed when the [h] sound is in word initial position. (Trudgill, 2004 : 19) Instead of pronouncing the [h] the speaker omits this sound and expresses the following vowel as the initial sound of the word, for example in the words home, horse and here; these would be pronounced [o:m], [ɔ:rs] and [i:r]. However, this feature is not unique to Bristol speech- many other dialects are known for h-dropping, in particular Cockney, whilst even as north as Manchester h-dropping can be quite common. Newcastle and other places in the North East, however, have maintained the [h] at the beginning of words, along with most of Scotland and Ireland. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 62) Another omition featured in the Bristol accent is that of the word-medial [t] sound, sometimes word-finally. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 78) This is called Glottalisation where a glottal stop [ʔ] replaces the [t] sound in the middle or at the end of a word. For example, the word matter becomes [maʔər], better becomes [bɜʔər] and computer becomes [kɒmpɪuʔər]. Again, like h-dropping, glottalisation is used in many different English dialects and is not particular to any specific region, although it tends not to feature in most parts of Wales. (Hughes and Trudgill, 1996 : 62)
Speakers of the Bristol dialect demonstrate a post vocalic [r]. This tends to be a Southwestern dialect feature, yet can be found in areas of Lancashire along with Scotland and Ireland. It is noted in words like letter [lɛtər] or [lɛʔər], chair [tʃɜr] and father [fɑðər] where [r] is in word-final position. Comparatively, in dialects like Newcastle Geordie and Leeds these words would be pronounced without the post vocalic [r]. For example, in Geordie letter might be expressed as [lɛʔa] and in Leeds might be pronounced [lɛtɘ]; with all of these variants ending on a vowel sound.
In conclusion, the Bristol accent (although situated in the South West of England) shares phonological features with dialects throughout the North West, South East, Scotland and Ireland. This demonstrates that each individual accent characteristic does not belong only to Bristol. However, with different varieties sharing different phonological features with the Bristol accent, the unique set of features it displays forms its own individual dialect. Therefore, the statement in the question title ‘…accent is probably one of the best indicators of a speaker’s geographical origin’ definitely holds truth, whilst simultaneously questioning the origins of individual phonological features shared by different regional dialects.
References:
Hughes, A. Trudgill, P. 1996. English Accents and Dialects: An Introduction to Social and Regional Varieties of English in the British Isles. 3rd Ed. London: Hodder Arnold. [Chapter 4: Regional Accent Variation. Chapter 5: British Isles Accents and Dialects]
Trudgill, P. 2004. Dialects. 2nd Ed. Oxen: Routledge. [Chapter 4: Dialects- The Old and The New.]
Comments