The pronunciation dictionary is a key resource required during the development of an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. In this thesis, we adapt a British English pronunciation dictionary to Standard South African English (SSAE), as a case study in dialect adaptation. Our investigation leads us in three different directions: dictionary verification, phoneme redundancy evaluation and phoneme adaptation. A pronunciation dictionary should be verified for correctness before its implementation in experiments or applications. However, employing a human to verify a full pronunciation dictionary is an indulgent process which cannot always be accommodated. In our dictionary verification research we attempt to reduce the human effort required in the verification of a pronunciation dictionary by implementing automatic and semi-automatic techniques that find and isolate possible erroneous entries in the dictionary. We identify a number of new techniques that are very efficient in identifying errors, and apply them to a public domain British English pronunciation dictionary. Investigating phoneme redundancy involves looking into the possibility that not all phoneme distinctions are required in SSAE, and investigating different methods of analysing these distinctions. The methods that are investigated include both data driven and knowledge based pronunciation suggestions for a pronunciation dictionary used in an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. This investigation facilitates a deeper linguistic insight into the pronunciation of phonemes in SSAE. Finally, we investigate phoneme adaptation by adapting the KIT phoneme between two dialects of English through the implementation of a set of adaptation rules. Adaptation rules are extracted from literature but also formulated through an investigation of the linguistic phenomena in the data. We achieve a 93% predictive accuracy, which is significantly higher than the 71 % achievable through the implementation of previously identified rules. The adaptation of a British pronunciation dictionary to SSAE represents the final step of developing a SSAE pronunciation dictionary, which is the aim of this thesis. In addition, an ASR system utilising the dictionary is developed, achieving an unconstrained phoneme accuracy of 79.7%. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The pronunciation dictionary is a key resource required during the development of an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. In this thesis, we adapt a British English pronunciation dictionary to Standard South African English (SSAE), as a case study in dialect adaptation. Our investigation leads us in three different directions: dictionary verification, phoneme redundancy evaluation and phoneme adaptation. A pronunciation dictionary should be verified for correctness before its implementation in experiments or applications. However, employing a human to verify a full pronunciation dictionary is an indulgent process which cannot always be accommodated. In our dictionary verification research we attempt to reduce the human effort required in the verification of a pronunciation dictionary by implementing automatic and semi-automatic techniques that find and isolate possible erroneous entries in the dictionary. We identify a number of new techniques that are very efficient in identifying errors, and apply them to a public domain British English pronunciation dictionary. Investigating phoneme redundancy involves looking into the possibility that not all phoneme distinctions are required in SSAE, and investigating different methods of analysing these distinctions. The methods that are investigated include both data driven and knowledge based pronunciation suggestions for a pronunciation dictionary used in an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. This investigation facilitates a deeper linguistic insight into the pronunciation of phonemes in SSAE. Finally, we investigate phoneme adaptation by adapting the KIT phoneme between two dialects of English through the implementation of a set of adaptation rules. Adaptation rules are extracted from literature but also formulated through an investigation of the linguistic phenomena in the data. We achieve a 93% predictive accuracy, which is significantly higher than the 71 % achievable through the implementation of previously identified rules. The adaptation of a British pronunciation dictionary to SSAE represents the final step of developing a SSAE pronunciation dictionary, which is the aim of this thesis. In addition, an ASR system utilising the dictionary is developed, achieving an unconstrained phoneme accuracy of 79.7%. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Den underliggande idén för denna studie är frågan om en ljudrelaterad grammatik kan undervisas via fonologiska övningar och diktamen för att förbättra den mekaniska skrivförmågan och om språkundervisningsmetoder för årskurs 1–2 kan också utnyttjas för äldre elever. Huvudsyftet med den här studien är att undersöka hur sverigefinska elever behärskar ljud av standardfinska med fokus på långa och korta vokaler och konsonanter samt diftonger. Dessutom är målet att testa en diktamensmetod som bedömer utgångsnivån av elevernas färdighetsnivå för att skriva korta och långa vokaler och konsonanter samt diftonger. Forskningsfrågorna är följande: 1) Vilka slags avvikelser jämfört med standardfinska finns i sverigefinska elevers skrivning av korta och långa vokaler och konsonanter samt diftonger? 2) Hur mycket avvikelser jämfört med standard finska finns i sverigefinska elevers skrivning av korta och långa vokaler och konsonanter samt diftonger? 3) Vilken typ av korrelation kan man hitta mellan avvikelser jämfört med standard finska och externa bakrundsvariabler. Denna studie av vilken teoretisk bakgrund läggs på fonologi, pedagogik och sociolingvistik har ett särskilt fokus på sverigefinsk kultur och flerspråkighet. Huvudmaterialet samlades in genom en diktamensövning med 22 skolelever i åldern 9–13 år och analyserades med hjälp av ordstrukturanalys. Utöver detta analyserades ett berättande textprov från tio elever. Bakgrundsinformation samlades in från föräldrar och jämfördes med resultaten av ordstrukturanalysen med hjälp av en implikationsskala. Studien visar att de viktigaste avvikelserna kring långa vokaler och konsonanter är de saknade bokstäverna, dvs enkelskrivning av ljuden. De mest utmanande långa vokalerna är oo, ee, yy och ää och de långa konsonanterna ss, rr och nn. Dessutom sker omkastning mellan bokstäver: för vokaler u > o, o > å och y > u och för konsonanter: m > n och kk > ck. De mest utmanande diftongerna är yi, ey, ie, uo, yö, öy, äy och iy och de lättaste att hantera är ai, oi, au, eu och öi. Dessutom blandas ibland o ihop u, u ihop y och ä ihop e. Det verkar som att bakgrundsvariablerna inte visar någon betydande korrelation med de språkliga färdigheterna vid hantering av vokaler, konsonanter och diftonger. Hur som helst säger en försiktig tolkning att det verkar ha en positiv effekt om man har lärt sig språket under de första tre åren och om man använder språket med släktingar. / The underlying idea of this study is a question if phoneme related grammar can be taught via phonological exercises and dictations in order to improve mechanical writing skills and if language teaching methods for grade 1–2 can also be utilized for older students. The main objective of this study is to study the command of standard Finnish phonemes among Sweden Finn pupils, focusing on long and short vowels and consonants, and diphthongs. In addition, the target is to test a dictation method which assesses the starting level of pupils’ competence in writing short and long vowels and consonants, and diphthongs. The research questions are the following: 1) What kind of deviations compared to standard Finnish can be found in Sweden Finn pupils’ writing of short and long vowels and consonants and diphthongs? 2) How much of the deviations compared to standard Finnish can be found in Sweden Finn pupils’ writing of short and long vowels and consonants and diphthongs? 3) What kind of correlation can be found between these deviations, compared to standard Finnish and the background variables? The theoretical background of this study is based on phonology, educational science and sociolinguistic, and it has its special focus on Swedish-Finnish culture and multilingualism. The main data was collected with a dictation from 22 pupils aged 9–13 years old and analyzed by using word structure analysis. In addition to this the narratives of text samples by ten pupils were analyzed. Background information was collected from parents and compared with the results of the word structure analysis, by using an implication scale. The study shows that the main deviations regarding long vowels and consonants are missing letters, that is, the use of single letters where two are expected.  The most challenging long vowels are oo, ee, yy and ää and the long consonants ss, rr and nn. In addition, a replacement between letters appears: with vowels u > o, o > å and y > u and with consonants: m > n and kk > ck.The most challenging diphthongs are yi, ey, ie, uo, yö, öy, äy and iy, and the easiest to manage are ai, oi, au, eu and öi. Besides this some disorders between o and u, u and y and ä and e appear. It seems that background variables do not show any significant dependencies on competences in managing vowels, consonants and diphthongs. However with a cautious interpretation, there seems to be a positive effect if the language have been learnt during the first three years and if the language is used with relatives.

O trabalho tem como tema o estudo da variação do ditongo nasal ão em sílaba final de vocábulo (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) por falantes bilíngues de português-alemão e português-italiano das comunidades de Panambi e Flores da Cunha, respectivamente. A decisão por investigar essas comunidades deve-se à constatação preliminar de que tal fenômeno é característico de comunidades bilíngues cujas línguas de origem não possuem ditongos nasais. A amostra constitui-se de 16 entrevistas do PROJETO VARSUL (Variação Linguística Urbana na Região Sul). Dados do PROJETO ALERS (Atlas Linguístico-Etnográfico da Região Sul do Brasil) de comunidades bilíngues de alemão e de italiano contribuíram para enriquecer a discussão. No presente estudo, a variável dependente, a alternância do ditongo nasal ão/am ~on em final de vocábulo, é examinada frente a possíveis condicionadores linguísticos e extralinguísticos, suas variáveis independentes. As variáveis linguísticas analisadas são Tonicidade do Alvo, Extensão do Vocábulo, Classe Gramatical, Número (Singular ou Plural) e Contexto Precedente. De forma geral, o fenômeno se aplica em sílabas finais tônicas de palavras no singular, fazendo uma leve distinção entre palavras longas e curtas. Além disso, como se trata de uma variação fonética de superfície, a classe gramatical não parece ser relevante nesse processo, ainda que deva incidir mais significativamente sobre alguns itens lexicais em específico. Quanto às variáveis extralinguísticas, foram analisados Localidade Bilíngue, Idade, Sexo e Escolaridade. De forma geral, o processo não faz distinção importante entre as duas localidades bilíngues analisadas, mas se aplica mais entre os menos escolarizados, por seu menor contato com a modalidade padrão da língua portuguesa. Além disso, o processo aplica-se mais entre homens com mais de 50 anos, em virtude de seu grau de bilinguismo e, possivelmente, por as mulheres dessas comunidades evitarem mais do que os homens variantes desprestigiadas. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo programa GOLDVARB X e discutidos na perspectiva da Teoria da Variação, proposta por Labov (1969, 1972). / This dissertation deals with the variation of the nasal diphthong [ãw] in final syllable of word position (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) by bilingual speakers of German and Italian communities from Panambi and Flores da Cunha, respectively. The decision to investigate these communities due to the preliminary conclusion, that this phenomenon is characteristic of bilingual communities whose languages of origin do not have nasal diphthongs. The sample is constituted of 16 interviews from VARSUL PROJECT (Urban Linguistic Variation in South Region). Data from ALERS PROJECT (Linguistic-Ethnographic Atlas of Southern Brazil) communities bilingual German and Italian contributed to enrich the discussion. In this study, the dependent variable, the alternation of the nasal diphthong ão/am ~ on at the end of word, is examined against possible linguistic and extra linguistic conditioners, their independent variables. The linguistic variables analyzed are Target Toning, Extension of the Word totally, Grammar Class, Number (singular or plural) and Previous Context. In general, the phenomenon applies in tonic final syllables of words in the singular, making a slight distinction between long and short words. Moreover, as it is a phonetic variation of surface, the grammar class is not relevant in this process, although it should focus more significantly on some lexical items in particular. Concerning to the extralinguistic variables, were analyzed bilingual Place, Age, Gender and Education. In general, the process does not distinguish between the two major bilingual cities analyzed, but applies more among the less educated, on the slightest contact with the standard form of the Portuguese language. Furthermore, the process applies more among men over 50 years, because of their degree of bilingualism and, possibly, by the fact the women these communities more than men discredited variants. The results were statistically analyzed by the GOLDVARB X and discussed from the perspective of the Theory of Change, proposed by Labov (1969, 1972).

O trabalho tem como tema o estudo da variação do ditongo nasal ão em sílaba final de vocábulo (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) por falantes bilíngues de português-alemão e português-italiano das comunidades de Panambi e Flores da Cunha, respectivamente. A decisão por investigar essas comunidades deve-se à constatação preliminar de que tal fenômeno é característico de comunidades bilíngues cujas línguas de origem não possuem ditongos nasais. A amostra constitui-se de 16 entrevistas do PROJETO VARSUL (Variação Linguística Urbana na Região Sul). Dados do PROJETO ALERS (Atlas Linguístico-Etnográfico da Região Sul do Brasil) de comunidades bilíngues de alemão e de italiano contribuíram para enriquecer a discussão. No presente estudo, a variável dependente, a alternância do ditongo nasal ão/am ~on em final de vocábulo, é examinada frente a possíveis condicionadores linguísticos e extralinguísticos, suas variáveis independentes. As variáveis linguísticas analisadas são Tonicidade do Alvo, Extensão do Vocábulo, Classe Gramatical, Número (Singular ou Plural) e Contexto Precedente. De forma geral, o fenômeno se aplica em sílabas finais tônicas de palavras no singular, fazendo uma leve distinção entre palavras longas e curtas. Além disso, como se trata de uma variação fonética de superfície, a classe gramatical não parece ser relevante nesse processo, ainda que deva incidir mais significativamente sobre alguns itens lexicais em específico. Quanto às variáveis extralinguísticas, foram analisados Localidade Bilíngue, Idade, Sexo e Escolaridade. De forma geral, o processo não faz distinção importante entre as duas localidades bilíngues analisadas, mas se aplica mais entre os menos escolarizados, por seu menor contato com a modalidade padrão da língua portuguesa. Além disso, o processo aplica-se mais entre homens com mais de 50 anos, em virtude de seu grau de bilinguismo e, possivelmente, por as mulheres dessas comunidades evitarem mais do que os homens variantes desprestigiadas. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo programa GOLDVARB X e discutidos na perspectiva da Teoria da Variação, proposta por Labov (1969, 1972). / This dissertation deals with the variation of the nasal diphthong [ãw] in final syllable of word position (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) by bilingual speakers of German and Italian communities from Panambi and Flores da Cunha, respectively. The decision to investigate these communities due to the preliminary conclusion, that this phenomenon is characteristic of bilingual communities whose languages of origin do not have nasal diphthongs. The sample is constituted of 16 interviews from VARSUL PROJECT (Urban Linguistic Variation in South Region). Data from ALERS PROJECT (Linguistic-Ethnographic Atlas of Southern Brazil) communities bilingual German and Italian contributed to enrich the discussion. In this study, the dependent variable, the alternation of the nasal diphthong ão/am ~ on at the end of word, is examined against possible linguistic and extra linguistic conditioners, their independent variables. The linguistic variables analyzed are Target Toning, Extension of the Word totally, Grammar Class, Number (singular or plural) and Previous Context. In general, the phenomenon applies in tonic final syllables of words in the singular, making a slight distinction between long and short words. Moreover, as it is a phonetic variation of surface, the grammar class is not relevant in this process, although it should focus more significantly on some lexical items in particular. Concerning to the extralinguistic variables, were analyzed bilingual Place, Age, Gender and Education. In general, the process does not distinguish between the two major bilingual cities analyzed, but applies more among the less educated, on the slightest contact with the standard form of the Portuguese language. Furthermore, the process applies more among men over 50 years, because of their degree of bilingualism and, possibly, by the fact the women these communities more than men discredited variants. The results were statistically analyzed by the GOLDVARB X and discussed from the perspective of the Theory of Change, proposed by Labov (1969, 1972).

O trabalho tem como tema o estudo da variação do ditongo nasal ão em sílaba final de vocábulo (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) por falantes bilíngues de português-alemão e português-italiano das comunidades de Panambi e Flores da Cunha, respectivamente. A decisão por investigar essas comunidades deve-se à constatação preliminar de que tal fenômeno é característico de comunidades bilíngues cujas línguas de origem não possuem ditongos nasais. A amostra constitui-se de 16 entrevistas do PROJETO VARSUL (Variação Linguística Urbana na Região Sul). Dados do PROJETO ALERS (Atlas Linguístico-Etnográfico da Região Sul do Brasil) de comunidades bilíngues de alemão e de italiano contribuíram para enriquecer a discussão. No presente estudo, a variável dependente, a alternância do ditongo nasal ão/am ~on em final de vocábulo, é examinada frente a possíveis condicionadores linguísticos e extralinguísticos, suas variáveis independentes. As variáveis linguísticas analisadas são Tonicidade do Alvo, Extensão do Vocábulo, Classe Gramatical, Número (Singular ou Plural) e Contexto Precedente. De forma geral, o fenômeno se aplica em sílabas finais tônicas de palavras no singular, fazendo uma leve distinção entre palavras longas e curtas. Além disso, como se trata de uma variação fonética de superfície, a classe gramatical não parece ser relevante nesse processo, ainda que deva incidir mais significativamente sobre alguns itens lexicais em específico. Quanto às variáveis extralinguísticas, foram analisados Localidade Bilíngue, Idade, Sexo e Escolaridade. De forma geral, o processo não faz distinção importante entre as duas localidades bilíngues analisadas, mas se aplica mais entre os menos escolarizados, por seu menor contato com a modalidade padrão da língua portuguesa. Além disso, o processo aplica-se mais entre homens com mais de 50 anos, em virtude de seu grau de bilinguismo e, possivelmente, por as mulheres dessas comunidades evitarem mais do que os homens variantes desprestigiadas. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo programa GOLDVARB X e discutidos na perspectiva da Teoria da Variação, proposta por Labov (1969, 1972). / This dissertation deals with the variation of the nasal diphthong [ãw] in final syllable of word position (ex. pão ~ pon; tiravam ~ tiravon) by bilingual speakers of German and Italian communities from Panambi and Flores da Cunha, respectively. The decision to investigate these communities due to the preliminary conclusion, that this phenomenon is characteristic of bilingual communities whose languages of origin do not have nasal diphthongs. The sample is constituted of 16 interviews from VARSUL PROJECT (Urban Linguistic Variation in South Region). Data from ALERS PROJECT (Linguistic-Ethnographic Atlas of Southern Brazil) communities bilingual German and Italian contributed to enrich the discussion. In this study, the dependent variable, the alternation of the nasal diphthong ão/am ~ on at the end of word, is examined against possible linguistic and extra linguistic conditioners, their independent variables. The linguistic variables analyzed are Target Toning, Extension of the Word totally, Grammar Class, Number (singular or plural) and Previous Context. In general, the phenomenon applies in tonic final syllables of words in the singular, making a slight distinction between long and short words. Moreover, as it is a phonetic variation of surface, the grammar class is not relevant in this process, although it should focus more significantly on some lexical items in particular. Concerning to the extralinguistic variables, were analyzed bilingual Place, Age, Gender and Education. In general, the process does not distinguish between the two major bilingual cities analyzed, but applies more among the less educated, on the slightest contact with the standard form of the Portuguese language. Furthermore, the process applies more among men over 50 years, because of their degree of bilingualism and, possibly, by the fact the women these communities more than men discredited variants. The results were statistically analyzed by the GOLDVARB X and discussed from the perspective of the Theory of Change, proposed by Labov (1969, 1972).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:48:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marco Antonio Adamoli_Tese.pdf: 5526851 bytes, checksum: 925611790770b0566c88972581441cf7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-21 / In this dissertation, I have analyzed the oral and orthographic production of the variable diphthongs [aj] and [ej] in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) by a group of fifteen children who were developing their literacy processes in an Elementary School in Pelotas, RS. My main objective was to describe the oral and written production of such vowel sequences and, based on comparisons found in the collected material, to provide arguments not only for the discussion about the phonological representation of those sequences but also for the proposal of child representation restructuring based on how they learn to write. In order to achieve this objective, I presupposed that children‟s oral production and their early orthographic productions of the diphthongs under investigation, collected for two years in a row, could provide clues to comprehend these children‟s phonological knowledge of those vowel sequences. Data analysis showed that, regarding oral production, the first graders produced very low frequencies around 5% - of both diphthongs whereas second graders yielded 63% for [aj] and 44% for [ej]. Concerning orthographic productions, data analysis showed that, at the beginning of their literacy processes, children tend to have some difficulties regarding conventional writing in terms of spelling both vowel groups since they prefer forms without the semivowel. Besides, in subsequent stages, an important change was perceived in the children‟s orthographic development: around 80% for the production of the grapheme i‟, which seems to evidence that these orthographic structures have already been acquired by second graders. On the whole, the data, along with further arguments regarding the diphthongs in variation and oral acquisition, provided arguments to make me suggest that children spell such segments as if they had one vowel only in the subjacency, /a/ and /e/, in accordance with the input they got, rather than as a structure vowel + glide, which would be produced in the following stages, when they learn how to write. This interpretative proposal is supported by the fact that children are acquiring the phonology of their language in a successive process of (re)construction of their phonological representations while their orthographic systems are being built. Based on the data collected by this study and a set of data on the acquisition of such segments, I questioned whether palatal fricatives are complex segments in child phonology and proposed an interpretation for the utterance of the phonetic diphthongs [aj] and [ej] which says that the children under study interpreted the palatal fricative consonants, in their early phonological development, as simple segments and modified their interpretation due to the learning of the alphabet writing. / Nesta tese, analisamos as produções orais e ortográficas dos ditongos variáveis [aj] e [ej] do PB de um grupo composto por quinze crianças em fase de alfabetização, pertencentes a uma escola de ensino fundamental da cidade de Pelotas/RS. Tivemos como objetivo principal descrever a produção oral e escrita de tais sequências vocálicas e, a partir da comparação do material empírico obtido, fornecer argumentos à discussão sobre a representação fonológica de tais sequências vocálicas, bem como à proposta de reestruturação das representações infantis a partir da aprendizagem da escrita. A fim de atender a esse objetivo, partimos do pressuposto de que as produções orais infantis e as primeiras produções ortográficas dos ditongos em foco, coletados em um período de dois anos consecutivos, pudessem oferecer-nos indícios para a compreensão do conhecimento fonológico desse grupo de crianças sobre tais sequências vocálicas. O levantamento dos dados mostrou-nos que, quanto às produções orais, as crianças concluíram o primeiro ano produzindo frequências muito baixas desses dois ditongos, próximas a 5%, ao passo que, ao final do segundo ano de escolarização, os percentuais chegaram a 63%, para [aj], e 44%, para [ej]. Em relação às produções ortográficas, o levantamento dos dados revelou-nos que, no início da escolarização, as crianças tendem a apresentar dificuldades quanto à escrita convencional no que diz respeito à grafia desses dois grupos vocálicos, preferindo formas sem a semivogal, e que, em estágios subsequentes, uma mudança importante no desenvolvimento ortográfico das crianças é percebida, pois constatamos índices em torno de 80% de produção do grafema i‟, o que parece indicar que essas estruturas ortográficas são adquiridas pelas crianças já a partir do segundo ano. Em seu conjunto, os dados coletados, somados a outros argumentos adicionais também sobre os ditongos na variação e na aquisição oral, forneceram argumentos para sugerirmos que as crianças grafam tais segmentos considerando-os como portadores de uma vogal apenas na subjacência, /a/ e /e/, dadas as informações percebidas pelo input, e não como uma estrutura do tipo vogal + glide, a qual viria a surgir em estágios posteriores, por meio da aprendizagem da escrita. Essa proposta interpretativa tem como apoio o fato de a criança estar adquirindo a fonologia de sua língua, em um processo sucessivo de (re) construção de suas representações fonológicas, ao mesmo tempo em que o seu sistema ortográfico passa a ser construído. Com base nos dados deste estudo e em um conjunto de dados de aquisição sobre tais grupos vocálicos, questionamos a proposta de serem as fricativas palatais segmentos complexos na fonologia infantil e propusemos uma interpretação para o surgimento dos ditongos fonéticos [aj] e [ej] segundo a qual as crianças investigadas interpretam as consoantes fricativas palatais, em etapa do desenvolvimento fonológico inicial, como segmentos simples, tendo sua interpretação modificada em decorrência da aprendizagem da escrita alfabética.

The orthography of Östergötland’s 11th century runic inscriptions varies widely, in part due to the lack of spelling norms at the time. This thesis seeks to identify other causes for the observed variation, based on the frequency and distribution of aspects of inscription orthography. The Old Norse words ræisa and stæin in the phrase “raised the stone” were analyzed based on the main vowel and its status as a monograph or digraph. The presence or absence of þ in inflected ræisa was also included as an indicator of age. All runic inscriptions in Östergötland with definite key word orthography were included, 169 in total. The analysis reveals that most inscriptions are clustered in three regions, each with a dominant vowel. By region, these are ei (west), i (central) and ai (east), with vowel consistency between ræisa and stæin the norm. The consonant þ in inflected ræisa is most common in the west and east. The vowel orthography together with the distribution of þ implies a relative chronology for Östergötland’s runic inscriptions, where the ongoing monophthongization is reflected in digraphs and monographs. The detailed orthography distribution of these variables shows that the main clusters align with the known 11th century quarries at Borghamn (west) and Vreta (central). Stoneworking at a shared site resulted in a transfer of knowledge, including runestone design and orthography which became a local norm as it spread. The lack of a unifying quarry in eastern Östergötland resulted in a more diverse local orthography, and possibly hampered the building of the first stone churches during the early 12th century. / Östergötlands runinskrifter från 1000-talet varierar stort i sin ortografi, delvis på grund av bristen på stavningsnormer när de ristades. Uppsatsen eftersträvar att identifiera andra orsaker för denna variation, baserat på frekvensen och distributionen av vissa aspekter i inskrifternas ortografi. De fornnordiska orden ræisa och stæin i inskriftsfrasen “reste sten” analyserades baserat på huvudvokalen samt om den var en monograf eller digraf. Användning av þ i böjda former av ræisa inkluderades som ett tecken på inskriftens ålder. Samtliga runinskrifter i Östergötland med en säker nyckelordsortografi analyserades, totalt 169 stycken. Resultaten visar att de flesta inskrifterna är grupperade i tre regioner som har varsin dominant vokal. Vanligast i väster är ei, i den centrala regionen råder i och i öster råder ai, med normen att samma vokal används i både ræisa och stæin. Konsonanten þ i böjd ræisa är vanligast i väster och i öster. Vokalortografin tillsammans med þ-distributionen indikerar en relativ kronologi för Östergötlands runinskrifter, där vokalernas monoftongering under 1000-talet återspeglas i digrafer och monografer. De analyserade variablernas distribution visar att huvudgrupperingarna sammanfaller med de kända stenbrotten från 1000-talet vid Borghamn (i väster) och Vreta (centrala regionen). Att stenarbetet skedde vid en gemensam site ledde till en omedveten kunskapsöverlämning mellan ristare. Inskriftsortografi kopierades och blev lokala normer allt efter att den spreds. Bristen på ett större stenbrott som informell, gemensam arbetsplats i östra Östergötland ledde till en mer varierad lokalortografi. Detta kan ha hindrat stenkyrkobygget lokalt under tidigt 1100-tal.

This thesis provides a comparative analysis of vowel quality in South African English (SAE) using the following data: firstly, the existing impressionistic literature on SAE and other relevant accents of English, the former of which is subject to a critical review; secondly, acoustic data from a similar range of accents, including new SAE data, collected and instrumentally analyzed specifically for the purposes of this research. These various data are used to position, on both a descriptive and theoretical level, the SAE vowel system. In addition, and in the service of providing a careful reconstruction of the linguistic history of this variety, it offers a three-stage koin´eization model which helps, in many respects, to illuminate the respective roles played by endogenous and exogenous factors in SAE’s development. More generally, the analysis is focussed on rendering explicit the extent to which the synchronic status and diachronic development of SAE more generally, and SAE vowel quality more particularly, provides support for a number of descriptive and theoretical frameworks, including those provided in Labov (1994), Torgersen and Kerswill (2004), Trudgill (2004) and Schneider (2003; 2007). With respect to these frameworks, and based on the results of the analysis, it proposes an extension to Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic Model, shows Trudgill’s (2004) model of new-dialect formation to be inadequate in accounting for some of the SAE data, provides evidence that SAE is a possibly imminent but ‘conservative’ member of Torgersen and Kerswill’s (2004) SECS-Shift and uses SAE data to question the applicability of the SECS-Shift to FOOT-Fronting. Furthermore, this thesis provides evidence that SAE has undergone an indexicallydriven arrestment of the Diphthong and Southern Shifts and a subsequent and related diffusion of GenSAE values at the expense of BrSAE ones. Similarly, it shows that SAE’s possible participation in the SECS-Shift constitutes an effective chain-shift reversal ‘from above’. It stresses that, in order to understand such phenomena, recourse needs to be made to a theory of indexicality that takes into account the unique sociohistorical development of SAE and its speakers. Lastly, the adoption of the three-stage koin´eization model mentioned above highlights the merits of considering both endogenous and exogenous factors in the historical reconstruction of new-dialect formation and, for research into SAE in particular, strengthens the case for further investigation into the possible effects of 19th-century Afrikaans/Dutch, Yiddish and north-of-English dialects on the formation of modern SAE. / Thesis (Ph.D. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This thesis provides a comparative analysis of vowel quality in South African English (SAE) using the following data: firstly, the existing impressionistic literature on SAE and other relevant accents of English, the former of which is subject to a critical review; secondly, acoustic data from a similar range of accents, including new SAE data, collected and instrumentally analyzed specifically for the purposes of this research. These various data are used to position, on both a descriptive and theoretical level, the SAE vowel system. In addition, and in the service of providing a careful reconstruction of the linguistic history of this variety, it offers a three-stage koin´eization model which helps, in many respects, to illuminate the respective roles played by endogenous and exogenous factors in SAE’s development. More generally, the analysis is focussed on rendering explicit the extent to which the synchronic status and diachronic development of SAE more generally, and SAE vowel quality more particularly, provides support for a number of descriptive and theoretical frameworks, including those provided in Labov (1994), Torgersen and Kerswill (2004), Trudgill (2004) and Schneider (2003; 2007). With respect to these frameworks, and based on the results of the analysis, it proposes an extension to Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic Model, shows Trudgill’s (2004) model of new-dialect formation to be inadequate in accounting for some of the SAE data, provides evidence that SAE is a possibly imminent but ‘conservative’ member of Torgersen and Kerswill’s (2004) SECS-Shift and uses SAE data to question the applicability of the SECS-Shift to FOOT-Fronting. Furthermore, this thesis provides evidence that SAE has undergone an indexicallydriven arrestment of the Diphthong and Southern Shifts and a subsequent and related diffusion of GenSAE values at the expense of BrSAE ones. Similarly, it shows that SAE’s possible participation in the SECS-Shift constitutes an effective chain-shift reversal ‘from above’. It stresses that, in order to understand such phenomena, recourse needs to be made to a theory of indexicality that takes into account the unique sociohistorical development of SAE and its speakers. Lastly, the adoption of the three-stage koin´eization model mentioned above highlights the merits of considering both endogenous and exogenous factors in the historical reconstruction of new-dialect formation and, for research into SAE in particular, strengthens the case for further investigation into the possible effects of 19th-century Afrikaans/Dutch, Yiddish and north-of-English dialects on the formation of modern SAE. / Thesis (Ph.D. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.