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Constraints on the social meaning of released /t/: A production and perception study of U.S. politicians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2015

Robert J. Podesva ,
Jermay Reynolds ,
Patrick Callier  and
Jessica Baptiste
Robert J. Podesva
Affiliation:
Stanford University
Jermay Reynolds
Affiliation:
Nuance Communications, Inc.
Patrick Callier
Affiliation:
Stanford University
Jessica Baptiste
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Abstract

Previous studies on released /t/ collectively suggest that the linguistic feature is associated with intelligence and education, social meanings that can be recruited in constructing articulate personas. This study examines the production of released /t/ by six prominent U.S. political figures, as well as the social meanings listeners attribute to the variant. Employing a matched guise technique facilitated by digital stimulus manipulation, we find that the social meanings associated with released /t/ are constrained by linguistic and social factors. Regarding the former, word-medial /t/ releases carry stronger social meanings than those appearing word-finally. With respect to social factors, listener interpretations vary according to the identity of the speaker and knowledge of how frequently particular speakers produce /t/ releases. Thus, even though conventionalized associations between linguistic forms and meanings can be drawn upon to construct articulate personas, not all speakers can do so with equal effectiveness.

Type
Research Article
Information
Language Variation and Change , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , March 2015 , pp. 59 - 87
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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