CUREJ - College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal
The Spread of Raising: Opacity, lexicalization, and diffusion
Division: Social Sciences
Dept/Program: Linguistics
Document Type: Undergraduate Student Research
Mentor(s): William Labov
Date of this Version: 11 November 2007
This document has been peer reviewed.
Abstract
Canadian Raising is typically described as the centralization of the nucleus of /ay/ before voiceless segments. However some recent studies in areas affected by Raising have shown that the current conditioning factors are not as regular as reported previously (Vance, 1987; Dailey-OCain, 1997; Hall, 2005). This paper explores the status of Raising in Philadelphia. Examining data from 12 boys, ages 14 to 19, it appears that Raising has lexicalized here as well. While Raising occurs before a number of voiced stops and nasals, the words which experience Raising most regularly suggest that it has spread due to its opaque applications.
Suggested Citation
Fruehwald, Josef T., "The Spread of Raising: Opacity, lexicalization, and diffusion" 11 November 2007. CUREJ: College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal, University of Pennsylvania, https://repository.upenn.edu/curej/73.
Date Posted: 14 November 2007
This document has been peer reviewed.
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