A corpus-based study of pragmatic markers in London English

An investigation of speech rhythm in London English

“…We have documented that a more syllable-timed rhythm and possibly an increased vocalic articulation rate are features of MLE and, together with the documented phonological, grammatical and pragmatic innovations (Cheshire et al, 2008(Cheshire et al, , 2011Fox, in press;Kerswill et al, 2008;Gabrielatos et al, 2010;Torgersen et al, 2011), it shows that major language change can be evidenced in the English of Londoners. The relatively low vocalic nPVI for all speaker groups in Hackney may confirm inner London's status as a center of linguistic innovation and long-standing migration and dialect contact: having more syllable-timed rhythm is a feature of contact varieties such as Singapore English (nPVI 52.3) (Grabe and Low, 2002) and Maori New Zealand English (nPVI 48.1) (Szakay, 2008).…”

The New Cockney

“…Andersen (2001: 110) also argues that innit developed in high-contact communities, with non-Anglo speakers and adolescents in general in the lead. Today, however, its use has spread throughout the community and there is little difference between Anglo and non-Anglo speakers in the frequency of innit use (Torgersen, Gabrielatos, Hoffmann and Fox 2011). Hewitt (1986: 133) also commented on the use of you know what I mean (m) as an agreement-marker as 'a very recent idiomatic innovation, and one which appears to be developed within the London English of black adolescents but derived from a Caribbean source'.…”

“Her sentence is correct, isn't it?”: Regulative discourse in English medium classrooms

“…(Achiri-Taboh, 2015). In British English, a source language of many World Englishes, the tag has become standardized and is used across age groups and social contexts, in contrast to a parallel form, innit, widely in used in colloquial London dialect (Torgersen & Gabrielatos, 2009) and primarily by adolescents (Palacio Martínez, 2014). Isn't it is common in World Englishes, including Indian English (Achiri-Taboh, 2015;Columbus, 2010;Mesthrie & Bhatt, 2012).…”