Introduction: Tracing the origin of /s/ variation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Introduction: Tracing the origin of /s/ variation

AU - Levon, Erez

AU - Maegaard, Marie

AU - Pharao, Nicolai

PY - 2017/9/26

Y1 - 2017/9/26

N2 - This paper provides an introduction to the papers in this special issue on the sociophonetics of /s/. We begin by reviewing some of the principal findings on variation in the production and perception of /s/, summarizing studies in sociolinguistics, experimental phonetics, and laboratory phonology. We go on to identify similarities in the meanings associated with /s/ variation cross-linguistically, and briefly describe how theories of sound symbolism may help us to account for these patterns. We conclude this introductory article with a summary of the contributions to the special issue and a discussion of how together these articles help us to better understand that origin and trajectory of socially meaningful sociophonetic variation.

AB - This paper provides an introduction to the papers in this special issue on the sociophonetics of /s/. We begin by reviewing some of the principal findings on variation in the production and perception of /s/, summarizing studies in sociolinguistics, experimental phonetics, and laboratory phonology. We go on to identify similarities in the meanings associated with /s/ variation cross-linguistically, and briefly describe how theories of sound symbolism may help us to account for these patterns. We conclude this introductory article with a summary of the contributions to the special issue and a discussion of how together these articles help us to better understand that origin and trajectory of socially meaningful sociophonetic variation.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0024-3949

VL - 55

SP - 979

EP - 992

JO - Linguistics

JF - Linguistics

IS - 5

ER -