Vocalized Dentals in Irish English
Thirty and Thirdyhttp://www.irishtimes.com/debate/letters/thirdy-and-thirty-1.1465437
A chara, – Tom Gilsenan notes an ad on the radio in
which an actor says “thirdy” instead of “thirty” (July 13th). Vocalising
dental consonants between vowels is a common feature of both American
and Northern Irish English. The feature was rare in Southern Irish
English until very recently, but has become ubiquitous all over Ireland
in the last 10 or 20 years, particularly amongst the young. It appears
to be mostly under the influence of American television, however, rather
than the English of Northern Ireland. The feature is the result of
young people wanting to fit in and seem “cool”, and thereby says a lot
about how Irish people really view American and Irish culture. – Is
mise,
BRIAN Ó BROIN,
Department of English,
William Paterson
University,
New JerseyLabels: alveolar flap, America, Cool, culture, dentals, hiberno english, Ireland, irish english, television, tom gilsenan, vocalization
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