Description
Book SynopsisThis book is the first full-length volume to offer a comprehensive introduction to the English spoken in Britain''s oldest overseas colony, and, since 1949, Canada''s youngest province. Within North America, Newfoundland and Labrador English is a highly distinctive speech variety. It is known for its generally conservative nature, having retained close ties with its primary linguistic roots, the traditional speech of southwestern England and southern Ireland. It is also characterised by a high degree of regional and social variation. Over the past half century, the region has experienced substantial social, economic and cultural change. This is reflected linguistically, as younger generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians increasingly align themselves with ''mainland'' North American norms.
Trade ReviewIn summary, this book is a paramount example of its genre. Above all, it is testimony to Clarke's trademark attention to detail. In this volume she has carefully weighed a tremendous amount of material and has presented it with clarity and concision. Clarke is the expert on the sociolinguistics of English in Newfoundland and Labrador; this fact resonates on every page of the volume. -- Alexandra D'Arcy, University of Victoria English Worldwide In summary, this book is a paramount example of its genre. Above all, it is testimony to Clarke's trademark attention to detail. In this volume she has carefully weighed a tremendous amount of material and has presented it with clarity and concision. Clarke is the expert on the sociolinguistics of English in Newfoundland and Labrador; this fact resonates on every page of the volume.
Table of Contents1. Geography, demography and cultural factors; 2. Phonetics and phonology; 3. Morphosyntax; 4. Lexis and discourse features; 5. History, including changes in progress; 6. Survey of previous work and annotated bibliography; 7. Sample texts.
