The Spread of Raising: Opacity, lexicalization, and diffusion

College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal

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-O’Cain, 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.

Citation

BibTeX citation:

@article{fruehwald2007,
  author = {Fruehwald, Josef},
  title = {The {Spread} of {Raising:} {Opacity,} Lexicalization, and
    Diffusion},
  journal = {College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal},
  date = {2007},
  url = {http://repository.upenn.edu/curej/73},
  langid = {en},
  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-O’Cain, 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.}
}

For attribution, please cite this work as:

Fruehwald, Josef. 2007. “The Spread of Raising: Opacity, Lexicalization, and Diffusion.” College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal. http://repository.upenn.edu/curej/73.