The English language is widely spread. More than 20 countries all over the world consider English as their main and National language. However, all of these countries have their own accent which is quite interesting from a phonological point of view. On the one hand we have the consonantal system which does not seem to change very much within the different accents. On the other hand there is the vowel system which shows the exact opposite. The accent of the Scottish speaking population shall be in the main focus of this paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Scottish Vowel Length Rule
2. Aitken's Law and Vowel Classification
3. Giegerich's Perspective on SVLR Requirements
4. Critical Approaches by Philip Carr and John Anderson
5. Conclusion and Synthesis of Linguistic Perspectives
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR), evaluating its function as either a lengthening or a shortening mechanism through the critical review of seminal linguistic theories.
- Examination of Aitken's Law as the foundational framework for Scottish vowel duration.
- Analysis of the distinction between tense and lax vowels within the Scottish phonological system.
- Comparative study of Giegerich's phonological requirements for the SVLR.
- Critical evaluation of the arguments presented by Philip Carr and John Anderson regarding the nature of the rule.
Excerpt from the Book
Scottish Vowels and their Length Rule
First approaches to clarify the behaviour of vowel in the Scottish pronunciation or in other words the Scottish Vowel Length Rule which will be shortened as SVLR in the following were made by a Scottish linguist named A. J. Aitken. Due to the fact that Aitken was the first who stated this phenomenon it is also known as Aitken's Law. He states this phenomenon first in 1962, where he describes how vowels which are produced by a Scottish speaking community vary regarding their duration. It is said that Standard Scottish English (SSE) differs between two distinct acoustic perceptions, long and short.
But after all this system varies between dialects and other varieties of Scottish English. Therefore will the main focus of the following section be concerned with the Standard Scottish English which refers to the Scottish speaking middle class from Central Scotland seemingly communities form areas around Glasgow and Edinburgh. Aitken divides the Scottish vowel System in three major types of Scottish Vowels. First of all the the Early Scot high short vowels (Aitken 1981: 3) which are represented by /ɪ/ and /ʌ/ the SVLR does not affect these due to the fact that they are described to be short in all environments and around all dialect. The second group he describes contains the vowel sounds /ɑ:,ɔ:/ and /e:/ and therefore he calls them Early Scot diphthongs. (Aitken 1981: 3) As well as the first group, they are not affected by the SVLR due to the fact that these vowels are fully long representatives in short and long phonetic environment. The last group of vowels he describes contains all the remaining long monophthongs (/iː/, /e:/,/ɛː / ,/aː/ ,/o:/ ,/u:/ ,/øː/ ) (Aitken 1981: 3)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the Scottish Vowel Length Rule: This chapter introduces the phonological context of the Scottish accent and outlines the research focus on the SVLR.
2. Aitken's Law and Vowel Classification: This section details A.J. Aitken's primary definitions of vowel duration and his categorization of Scottish vowels into three distinct types.
3. Giegerich's Perspective on SVLR Requirements: This chapter analyzes Heinz J. Giegerich's contribution to understanding the distribution of long and short realizations of tense and lax vowel phonemes.
4. Critical Approaches by Philip Carr and John Anderson: This part reviews the conflicting theoretical models regarding whether the SVLR functions as a shortening or a lengthening rule.
5. Conclusion and Synthesis of Linguistic Perspectives: The final chapter summarizes the competing theories and provides the author's conclusion that the SVLR functions primarily as a lengthening process.
Keywords
Scottish Vowel Length Rule, SVLR, Aitken's Law, Standard Scottish English, Phonology, Tense Vowels, Lax Vowels, Vowel Duration, Dialects, Phonemic, Lengthening Rule, Shortening Rule, Lexical Level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper fundamentally explores the Scottish Vowel Length Rule (SVLR), examining how vowel duration functions within various Scottish English dialects.
What are the central thematic areas?
The core themes include the categorization of vowels (tense vs. lax), the influence of phonetic environments, and the critical debate between competing linguistic theories regarding rule application.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to determine whether the SVLR should be classified as a lengthening or a shortening rule by comparing the works of Aitken, Giegerich, Carr, and Anderson.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a comparative, analytical literature review, evaluating seminal phonological works and academic discourse to synthesize a conclusion.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers the historical origin of Aitken's Law, Giegerich’s formal description of the rule, and the theoretical challenges raised by Philip Carr and John Anderson.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
The most relevant keywords include Scottish Vowel Length Rule, Aitken's Law, Phonology, SSE, Vowel Duration, and Lexical Level.
How does Aitken distinguish between the three types of vowels?
Aitken categorizes vowels based on their susceptibility to the SVLR: high short vowels, which remain unaffected, Early Scot diphthongs, and the remaining long monophthongs.
Why is the classification of the rule as "lengthening" vs "shortening" important?
It is important because it dictates how linguists interpret the underlying phonological structure of Scottish English and whether the rule violates principles like the Strict Cyclicity Condition.
What is the final conclusion regarding the nature of the SVLR?
The author concludes that while the SVLR exhibits characteristics of a shortening rule at the lexical level, it is more accurately defined as a lengthening rule.
How do Carr and Anderson differ in their analysis of the rule?
Carr considers the SVLR a potential shortening process but emphasizes its lexical performance, whereas Anderson suggests the rule is neither purely shortening nor lengthening, but a regulator of suprasegmental structures.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Emilie Platt (Autor:in), 2017, The Scottish Pronunciation. Scottish Vowels and their Length Rule, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/389036
