Year: 1985
Type: article
Abstract: I ntroduction.This paper reports on research that depends heavily upon detailed phonological analysis of the pronunciation of select place names in San Antonio, Texas.The place name analysis, coupled with previously published research by other scholars, permits me to conclude that three distinct dialects of English exist in the San Antonio area.Arguments for that conclusion take two forms.First, a summary of previous claims and issues raised by scholars using the methods associated with linguistic geography is presented.Second, a recent sociological survey will be reviewed and new research using place name analysis -the city name, "San Antonio," and several San Antonio street names -will be discussed.1. Linguistic Geography Surveys.Scholarly literature on the San Antonio dialect(s) of English is limited to a series of articles by Janet Sawyer, based on her 1957 doctoral dissertation, and pertinent sections of Bagby Atwood's study of Texas vocabulary.1.1 Previous Claims.Sawyer makes three basic claims about English language usage in San Antonio.First, there is no San Antonio Spanish influence on English phonology, morphology, syntax, or even vocabulary (Williamson and Burke, p. 581; Gilbert, p. 38).Second, the pronunciation of the English monolinguals is strictly Southern (Williamson and Burke, p. 574; Sawyer (1964), p. 9; Gilbert, p. 26).Third, the English vocabulary is more South Midland than Southern.Sawyer attempts to make a fourth claim but articulates it quite differently in different places: Latin bilinguals, she says, strive to conform to the Southern pronunciation (Williamson and Burke, p. 579).No, what she really means is:... they are taught English along with native speakers who need to learn the special kind of English known as formal written style.Those students who wish to become competent bilinguals adopt the 'book-words' and formal usage rules of this special style for ordinary speech situations, and this precise, elegant style often sets off a bilingual from the English speaking community ....
Source: Names
Author: Scott Baird
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2093883584