Colloquium with Monica Nesbitt, Indiana University
Title: The missing link: How race and place impact chain shifts
Abstract: Our theory of chain shifts has advanced significantly through the rigorous analysis of multiple vocalic chain shifts occurring in contemporary North American English (Martinet 1952; Labov 1999; Dinkin 2012). This work has enabled the development of a model that elucidates the linguistic/internal mechanisms by which chain shifts are initiated and progress—two critical factors in understanding language change (Weinreich, Labov, & Herzog 1968). However, our chain-shifting model remains incomplete, as key aspects of language change, particularly its social/external conditioning, are still underexplored. In this presentation, I will address this gap by examining the influence of language attitudes, dialect/language contact, and race on vocalic chain shifts across North American varieties. The analysis includes data from white and Black speakers from Michigan, eastern and western Massachusetts, and upstate New York. I will demonstrate that incorporating social/external factors into the model enhances its ability to more accurately predict the trajectory and rate of change. Thus, emphasizing the importance of closely examining social as well as linguistic factors into our models of language behavior (Weinreich, Labov, and Herzog 1968).