As a topic for this term paper I chose an interesting and currently discussed accent in the south of Great Britain: The so-called "Estuary English". I was motivated to write about it because of its special role among the accents in the U.K. Some believe it to be "tomorrow’s RP". As there are a lot of varieties of English in the media and popular music, even foreign language learners get in contact with different pronunciations and accents. Apparently, as a future language teacher, it is important for me to teach students a right pronunciation of British English and moreover to be a role model in this respect. Therefore it will certainly help me to know something about the most popular accents in Great Britain and I believe Estuary English (EE) to be one of them.
What are the aims of the following term paper? At first, I will define some basic terms that are important for this topic and explain the special role of EE. Second, I am going to describe the linguistic features and variables of EE in detail by referring to linguistic studies and research that has been done. After that I will talk about the status and prestige of EE and explain the role of the media in this context. Finally I am going to finish with a short summary of what has been said.
Estuary English is currently one of the most interesting accents in Great Britain. It was first scientifically looked at in 1984 by David Rosewarne, who coined the term. Since then, EE has spread quickly from its original area, the Thames Estuary, to the north and west. It is widely accepted and even famous people are heard speaking EE. The most important features are the glottal stop and the l-vocalization. These are also the features that could be taken over as the future standard, as they are widely used and not only in EE. The importance of EE for the English Language as such is rather overestimated, especially in the media; still it is noteworthy that at least some features are significant for the future.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction/ Motivation
2.1 Definition: - What is a dialect? What is an accent?
- The study of accents and dialects in Great Britain
2.2 Estuary English as a special accent
3. Linguistic features (variables) of Estuary English
3.1 Vowels
3.2 Diphthongs
3.3 Consonants
3.4 Differences concerning vocabulary and grammar
4.1 Status and prestige of Estuary English
4.2 “EE” and the media
5. Summary
6. List of reference
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines "Estuary English" (EE), a contemporary accent originating in the southeast of England, to assess its linguistic characteristics and its potential role as a future standard of British English. The primary research goal is to define the accent's features and evaluate the pedagogical implications for foreign language teaching.
- Linguistic definition and historical emergence of Estuary English
- Detailed analysis of phonetic variables including vowels, diphthongs, and consonants
- Sociolinguistic status and the role of prestige in accent adoption
- The influence of media and popular culture on the spread of the accent
- Methodological considerations for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Estuary English as a special accent
Estuary English is a term that has first been coined by David Rosewarne in 1984 to describe the variety that is spoken in the southeast of England, including the counties Essex and Kent near the lower Thames Estuary. David Rosewarne himself describes it as “a mixture of non- regional and local south-eastern English pronunciation and intonation.” (Rosewarne 1994a: 3). In brief, one could say that EE is between Received Pronunciation (RP) and the popular London cockney accent concerning its pronunciation. Indeed, there are many similarities to those varieties. John Wells, author of the Longman Pronunciation Dictionary, has a rather critical opinion about Rosewarne’s views. Wells stresses that EE is defined by standard grammar and usage in contrast to Cockney, but unlike RP that it is regionally determined. So for him EE is “Standard English spoken with the accent of the southeast of England” (Wells, 1999).
Since Rosewarne has first dealt with this accent in 1984, the variety has spread very quickly and also found its way into the media, the role of which for EE I will talk about later. Obviously, EE seems to be a rather “young” or “new” accent compared to some traditional and older accents such as Liverpool English or the Norwich accent. Rosewarne mentions the “eastward movement of ‘popular London’ speakers from the east of the metropolis” (Rosewarne 1994a: 4) to explain the location of EE. Furthermore he found out that EE has been spreading both to the north and to the west which means that more and more people take over this accent. This development shows that EE can possibly increase its influence even more, which makes some people sceptical and worried.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction/ Motivation: The author outlines the motivation for studying Estuary English, highlighting its perceived role as a emerging standard in British English and its relevance for language teachers.
2.1 Definition: - What is a dialect? What is an accent?: This section distinguishes between dialects and accents while discussing the methodologies used to research linguistic variation within Great Britain.
2.2 Estuary English as a special accent: The chapter explores the origins and definitions of Estuary English as proposed by scholars like David Rosewarne and John Wells, positioning it between RP and Cockney.
3. Linguistic features (variables) of Estuary English: This section provides an overview of the specific linguistic variables, noting both the similarities to and distinct differences from London Cockney.
3.1 Vowels: An analysis of specific phonetic changes, such as HappY-tensing and Yod-coalescence/dropping, as they occur in Estuary English.
3.2 Diphthongs: This chapter describes the shifts in diphthong usage compared to the standard Received Pronunciation.
3.3 Consonants: An examination of consonant-related features, focusing primarily on L-vocalization and the usage of glottal stops.
3.4 Differences concerning vocabulary and grammar: A brief discussion of lexical preferences and grammatical structures often associated with Estuary English speakers.
4.1 Status and prestige of Estuary English: This chapter analyzes the social motivations behind the adoption of Estuary English, particularly among younger generations seeking to distance themselves from extreme social poles.
4.2 “EE” and the media: The author discusses how mass media and television programs have contributed to the popularization and often exaggerated perception of Estuary English.
5. Summary: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings and provides pedagogical recommendations regarding whether Estuary English should be integrated into foreign language teaching.
6. List of reference: A compilation of the scholarly sources and linguistic literature cited throughout the paper.
Keywords
Estuary English, Received Pronunciation, Cockney, Linguistics, Phonetics, Glottal stop, L-vocalization, Sociolinguistics, Language Change, British English, Accent, Dialect, Media Influence, Language Teaching, Standardization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this term paper?
The paper focuses on "Estuary English," an accent originating in the southeast of England, analyzing its linguistic characteristics, its social prestige, and its influence on contemporary British English.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The paper covers the definition of the accent, detailed phonetic and linguistic variables, the sociolinguistic reasons for its adoption, and the role of media in its dissemination.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to define Estuary English linguistically and evaluate whether it serves as a viable model or reference for foreign language learners of English.
Which scientific methods were utilized?
The author uses a literature-based approach, synthesizing existing linguistic studies, sociolinguistic research, and dictionary definitions to construct a profile of the accent.
What is analyzed in the main body?
The main body breaks down the specific phonetic variables (vowels, diphthongs, consonants), examines grammatical and lexical trends, and discusses the influence of the media and social status on the accent's spread.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Estuary English, Received Pronunciation (RP), Cockney, L-vocalization, glottal stop, sociolinguistics, and language teaching.
How does the author distinguish Estuary English from Cockney?
The author notes that while they share features like glottalling, Estuary English generally lacks characteristics like h-dropping and th-fronting, which are prominent in Cockney.
What is the author's final conclusion regarding EFL teaching?
The author concludes that it is more practical for German students to stick to Received Pronunciation (RP) as the standard, as teaching mixed accents could lead to confusion in formal or business contexts.
How does the media influence the perception of Estuary English?
The media has played a significant role in popularizing the accent through television and newspapers, though the author warns that the media often exaggerates the extent to which EE is replacing the standard RP.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2007, Estuary English as a Special Accent, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/457698
