Effects of Prescriptivism on the Pronunciation of American English

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Prescriptivism and descriptivism
  • 2.1 Standardization of American English as a social and historical process
  • 2.2 Standard American English and its use
• 3. The superiority of one pronunciation
• 4. Prescriptive rules on pronunciation
  • 4.1 G-Dropping
  • 4.2 Dissimilation of the (post)alveolar approximant //
  • 4.3 Unreleased plosives in consonant clusters
  • 4.4 Omitted /t/ in <-nt->-sequences
• 5. Methodology
• 6. Analysis
  • 6.1 Examination: G-dropping
  • 6.2 Examination: Dissimilation of the voiced postalveolar approximant //
  • 6.3 Examination: Unreleased plosives in consonant clusters
  • 6.4 Examination: Omitted /t/ in <-nt->-sequences
• 7. Outlook/Conclusion
• 8. References
• 9. Appendix
  • 9.1 Summary: Phenomena of g-dropping
  • 9.2 Summary: Phenomena of dissimilation of the (post)alveolar approximant //
  • 9.3 Summary: Phenomena of unreleased plosives in consonant clusters
  • 9.4 Summary: Phenomena of omitted /t/ in <-nt->-sequences

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis aims to investigate the effects of prescriptivism on the pronunciation of American English. It uses a modified version of the methodology employed by Kroch and Small (1978) to analyze phonetic phenomena in interviews from the Megyn Kelly TODAY show. The analysis focuses on the interplay between prescriptive rules and actual pronunciation.

• The impact of prescriptivism on pronunciation.
• Analysis of specific phonetic phenomena in American English (g-dropping, dissimilation, unreleased plosives, omitted /t/).
• Comparison between prescriptive ideals and actual speech patterns.
• The role of social context and speaker identity in pronunciation.
• Examination of the standardization process of American English.

Chapter Summaries

1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the central research question: how does prescriptivism affect pronunciation in American English? It establishes the theoretical framework by contrasting descriptive and prescriptive approaches to language. The chapter outlines the methodology, borrowing from Kroch and Small (1978), and specifies the corpus: interviews from the Megyn Kelly TODAY show. The four specific phonetic phenomena to be analyzed—g-dropping, dissimilation of the voiced postalveolar approximant, unreleased plosives, and omitted /t/—are introduced.

2. Prescriptivism and descriptivism: This chapter defines prescriptivism and descriptivism, contrasting their approaches to language. It explores the historical and social processes behind the standardization of American English, explaining how prescriptive rules are disseminated and maintained within society. The chapter also discusses the concept of a "standard" American English pronunciation and its usage in different social contexts.

3. The superiority of one pronunciation: This chapter delves into the societal perception of certain pronunciations as "superior" or "better," examining the social groups associated with these accents and the situations that often require a more formal pronunciation. It sets the stage for the following chapter's exploration of specific prescriptive rules.

4. Prescriptive rules on pronunciation: This chapter details the four specific phonetic phenomena under investigation: g-dropping, dissimilation of the (post)alveolar approximant, unreleased plosives in consonant clusters, and omitted /t/ in <-nt-> sequences. For each, it provides a clear definition and lays the groundwork for their analysis in subsequent chapters. It establishes the prescriptive rules surrounding each phenomenon and sets the stage for comparing these rules against actual usage.

5. Methodology: This chapter provides a detailed explanation of the research methodology, outlining the data collection and analysis procedures. It thoroughly describes the process of transcribing the video interviews from the Megyn Kelly TODAY show, focusing on the selected phonetic features, and using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for transcription.

6. Analysis: This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the four phonetic phenomena identified in chapter 4, using data from the transcribed interviews. It provides a detailed examination of each phenomenon, comparing observed pronunciation patterns to prescriptive rules, and likely relating findings to the concepts of social status and influence of media.

Keywords

Prescriptivism, descriptivism, American English pronunciation, standardization, g-dropping, dissimilation, unreleased plosives, omitted /t/, sociolinguistics, Megyn Kelly TODAY, phonetic transcription, IPA.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview

What is the main topic of this language preview?

This preview details a thesis investigating the effects of prescriptivism on the pronunciation of American English. It analyzes the relationship between prescriptive rules and actual pronunciation, focusing on four specific phonetic phenomena.

What are the key themes explored in this thesis?

The key themes include the impact of prescriptivism on pronunciation, analysis of specific phonetic phenomena (g-dropping, dissimilation, unreleased plosives, omitted /t/), comparison of prescriptive ideals and actual speech, the role of social context and speaker identity, and examination of the standardization process of American English.

What methodology is used in this research?

The research employs a modified version of the methodology used by Kroch and Small (1978). It involves analyzing phonetic phenomena in interviews from the Megyn Kelly TODAY show, using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for transcription.

What specific phonetic phenomena are analyzed?

The analysis focuses on four specific phonetic phenomena: g-dropping, dissimilation of the voiced postalveolar approximant, unreleased plosives in consonant clusters, and omitted /t/ in <-nt-> sequences. Each phenomenon is defined and analyzed in detail, comparing prescriptive rules to actual usage.

What is the data source for this research?

The data source consists of transcribed video interviews from the Megyn Kelly TODAY show. These interviews are analyzed to identify and quantify the occurrence of the four selected phonetic phenomena.

How does the preview structure the information?

The preview provides a comprehensive overview, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. Each chapter's summary explains its contribution to the overall research question.

What is the significance of the Megyn Kelly TODAY show as a data source?

The selection of the Megyn Kelly TODAY show as a data source likely reflects a strategic choice to analyze speech patterns within a specific sociolinguistic context, potentially revealing the influence of media and social status on pronunciation.

What is the difference between prescriptivism and descriptivism in this context?

Prescriptivism refers to the approach that dictates how language *should* be used, while descriptivism focuses on how language is *actually* used. The thesis contrasts these approaches to understand the impact of prescriptive rules on actual pronunciation.

What is the overall conclusion or outlook of the thesis (as previewed)?

The preview suggests the thesis will likely conclude with findings relating the observed pronunciation patterns to prescriptive rules, social status, and the influence of media. The specific findings are not detailed in this preview.

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This is a preview; for a comprehensive understanding of the research, consult the full thesis document itself.