Karen English: Refugee Language Acquisition and Use in the...
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Karen English: Refugee Language Acquisition and Use in the United States Amy Reynolds | [email protected] | amyrey.web.unc.edu Origins Question: How do rates of Consonant Cluster Reduction (CCR) in a refugee community compare with CCR in more established varieties of English? Study: Data from sociolinguistic interviews with Karen refugees is used to examine the initial stages of a new sustained-contact variety. Conclusion: Initial analysis shows that Karen English is unique, showing a lack of following phonetic environment effects (similar to creolized Englishes), but with CCR rates similar in range to more established sustained contact varieties. Overview The Phenomenon: Consonant Cluster Reduction We have data from three types of English for CCR rates: 1. Native English 2. Sustained Contact English 3. Creolized English However, there is little data about the specific comparative rates of CCR for the initial stages of Sustained Contact Englishes. The Problem Initial rates of Consonant Cluster Reduction for new sustained-contact varieties disregard following phonetic environment similar to Creolized English CCRs. However, their overall CCR production rates are lower than Creolized English CCR and are more similar in range to those of sustained contact English varieties. Conclusion: Refugee CCR rates are unique As this analysis is currently in its very initial stages, it will be interesting to see if and how rates might change with data from more speakers. Future analyses will explore at what point the community of resettlement begins to show an impact on reduction rates. 1. Bayley, R. 1994. Consonant cluster reduction in Tejano English. Language Variation and Change 6: 303-26. 2. Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2016. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Nineteenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com 3. Refugee Processing Center. 2016. Refugee Admissions Report December 31, 2016. Available at: http://www.wrapsnet.org/admissions-and-arrivals/ 4. Santa Ana, O. 1992. Chicano English evidence for the exponential hypothesis: A variable rule pervades 5. Schreier, D. 2005. Consonant Change in English worldwide: Synchrony meets diachrony. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. 6. Tagliamonte, S. and Temple, R. 2005. New perspectives on an ol’ variable (t,d) in British English. Language Variation and Change 17: 281-302. 7. Wolfram, W. and Thomas, E. 2002. The Development of African American English. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. Further Research Select References Karen Comparison Consonant Cluster Reduction (CCR) occurs when a word-final consonant cluster (such as [-st] in west) is reduced, typically to a single segment (e.g. wes’ side). What varieties have been studied? • Hyde County, NC(Wolfram and Thomas, 2002) • (White and Black) • York, England (Tagliamonte and Temple, 2005) • New Zealand (Schreier, 2005) • (White and Maori) • Chicano (Santa Ana, 1992) • Tejano (Bayley, 1994) • St. Helenian(Schreier, 2005) • Tristan da Cunha (Schreier, 2005) • And many more • There are many studies of CCR in varieties that are not represented here. These studies in particular have been chosen because they provided detailed information about the particular percentages of CCR based on following phonetic context. Clusters are reduced at variable rates depending on morpho- phonemic factors such as the following phonetic content. e.g. Word-final clusters are more likely to reduce when followed by a word starting in a consonant (the blin’ man) than when followed by a vowel (the blind ape) or pause. How do CCR rates for refugees compare to long-term established varieties of English? This study presents the preliminary results from 50 sociolinguistic interviews conducted with members of the Karen community throughout the United States. Results presented here come from 6 speakers of Karen English who have been in the United from 2 – 9 years. Research Question and Study Resettlement CCR in World Englishes 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Native English CCR White Hyde Co. York, England White New Zealand 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Sustained Contact English CCR Maori New Zealand Chicano English Tej Engl • Developed in communities that historically spoke English. • CCR rates differ based on following phonetic environment. • Developed in communities that did not historically speak English. • Occurred due to either colonization (Maori English) or immigration (Chicano/Tejano English) • CCR rates are higher than those of Native English varieties and in some instances, show different patterns. • Developed in communities which have had limited contact with other varieties of English and developed into creoles due to contact with other languages. • CCR rates are high, regardless of following phonetic environment. The Karen are an ethnic group originating in Myanmar (currently known as Burma). Their language is Tibeto-Burman.(Ethnologue, 2016) While it allows initial consonant clusters, it does not allow coda clusters and even codas are highly restricted. Undergoing sustained conflict and persecution by the Burmese government, many have fled over the border into Thailand, where they reside(d) in refugee camps. Due to ongoing conflict in their country of origin and rapid adoption of English as a first language by the younger generation, this variety is highly likely to develop into a new sustained-contact variety of English. Beginning in 2007, the Karen were made a priority refugee group by the Bush Administration. Since then, thousands have resettled throughout the United States, primarily in the South and Midwest. (Refugee Processing Center, 2016) 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Native English CCR White Hyde Co. York, England White New Zealand Karen 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Sustained contact English CCR Maori New Zealand Karen Chicano English Tej Engl 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 # Burmese Refugees Admitted Year U.S. Burmese Refugee Admissions by Year 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Creolized English CCR St. Helen Tristan da Cunha 0 20 40 60 80 100 Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V Creolized English CCR Karen St. Helen Tristan da Cunha
Transcript of Karen English: Refugee Language Acquisition and Use in the...
Karen English: Refugee Language Acquisition and Use in the United StatesAmy Reynolds | [email protected] | amyrey.web.unc.edu
Origins
Question: How do rates of Consonant Cluster Reduction (CCR) in a refugee community compare with CCR in more established varieties of English?
Study: Data from sociolinguistic interviews with Karen refugees is used to examine the initial stages of a new sustained-contact variety.
Conclusion: Initial analysis shows that Karen English is unique, showing a lack of following phonetic environment effects (similar to creolized Englishes), but with CCR rates similar in range to more established sustained contact varieties.
Overview
The Phenomenon: Consonant Cluster Reduction
We have data from three types of English for CCR rates:
1. Native English2. Sustained Contact English
3. Creolized English
However, there is little data about the specific comparative rates of CCR for the initial stages of
Sustained Contact Englishes.
The Problem
Initial rates of Consonant Cluster Reduction for new sustained-contact varieties disregard following phonetic environment similar to
Creolized English CCRs.
However, their overall CCR production rates are lower than Creolized English CCR and are more similar in range to those of sustained contact
English varieties.
Conclusion: Refugee CCR rates are unique
As this analysis is currently in its very initial stages, it will be interesting to see
if and how rates might change with data from more speakers.
Future analyses will explore at what point the community of resettlement
begins to show an impact on reduction rates.
1. Bayley, R. 1994. Consonant cluster reduction in Tejano English. Language Variation and Change 6: 303-26.
2. Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2016. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Nineteenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com
3. Refugee Processing Center. 2016. Refugee Admissions Report December 31, 2016. Available at: http://www.wrapsnet.org/admissions-and-arrivals/
4. Santa Ana, O. 1992. Chicano English evidence for the exponential hypothesis: A variable rule pervades
5. Schreier, D. 2005. Consonant Change in English worldwide: Synchrony meets diachrony. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
6. Tagliamonte, S. and Temple, R. 2005. New perspectives on an ol’ variable (t,d) in British English. Language Variation and Change 17: 281-302.
7. Wolfram, W. and Thomas, E. 2002. The Development of African American English. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers, 2002.
Further Research
Select References
Karen Comparison
Consonant Cluster Reduction (CCR) occurs when a word-final consonant cluster (such as [-st] in west) is reduced, typically to a single segment (e.g. wes’ side).
What varieties have been studied?
• Hyde County, NC(Wolfram and Thomas, 2002)
• (White and Black)
• York, England (Tagliamonte and Temple, 2005)
• New Zealand (Schreier, 2005)
• (White and Maori)
• Chicano (Santa Ana, 1992)
• Tejano (Bayley, 1994)
• St. Helenian(Schreier, 2005)
• Tristan da Cunha (Schreier, 2005)
• And many more• There are many studies of CCR in
varieties that are not represented here. These studies in particular have been chosen because they provided detailed information about the particular percentages of CCR based on following phonetic context.
Clusters are reduced at variable rates depending on morpho-phonemic factors such as the following phonetic content.
e.g. Word-final clusters are more likely to reduce when followed by a word starting in a consonant (the blin’ man) than when followed by a vowel (the blind ape) or pause.
How do CCR rates for refugees compare to long-term established
varieties of English?
This study presents the preliminary results from 50 sociolinguistic interviews conducted with members of the
Karen community throughout the United States. Results presented here come from 6 speakers of Karen English who have been in the United from 2 – 9 years.
Research Question and Study
Resettlement
CCR in World Englishes
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Native English CCR
White Hyde Co. York, England White New Zealand
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Sustained Contact English CCR
Maori New Zealand Chicano English Tej Engl
• Developed in communities that historically spoke English.
• CCR rates differ based on following phonetic environment.
• Developed in communities that did not historically speak English.
• Occurred due to either colonization (Maori English) or immigration (Chicano/Tejano English)
• CCR rates are higher than those of Native English varieties and in some instances, show different patterns.
• Developed in communities which have had limited contact with other varieties of English and developed into creoles due to contact with other languages.
• CCR rates are high, regardless of following phonetic environment.
The Karen are an ethnic group originating in Myanmar (currently known as Burma).
Their language is Tibeto-Burman.(Ethnologue, 2016) While it allows initial consonant clusters, it does not allow coda clusters and even codas are
highly restricted.
Undergoing sustained conflict and persecution by the Burmese government, many have fled over the border into Thailand, where they
reside(d) in refugee camps.
Due to ongoing conflict in their country of origin and rapid adoption of English as a first language by the younger generation, this variety is highly likely to develop into a new sustained-contact variety of English.
Beginning in 2007, the Karen were made a priority refugee group by the Bush Administration.
Since then, thousands have resettled throughout the United States, primarily
in the South and Midwest. (Refugee
Processing Center, 2016)
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Native English CCR
White Hyde Co. York, England
White New Zealand Karen
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Sustained contact English CCR
Maori New Zealand Karen Chicano English Tej Engl
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16# B
urm
ese
Ref
uge
es
Ad
mit
ted
Year
U.S. Burmese Refugee Admissions by Year
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Creolized English CCR
St. Helen Tristan da Cunha
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pre-C Pre-# Pre-V
Creolized English CCR
Karen St. Helen Tristan da Cunha
