ACADEMIC JOURNAL
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ISSN 2542-1077 (Print) ISSN 1994-5973 (Online) |
Linguistics |
Shevchenko T. I. | Moscow State Linguistic University |
Abyzov A. A. | Ivanovo State Polytechnic University |
Keywords: word stress Canadian English national identity specific accentual patterns frequency |
Summary: A complex combination of British and American features in Canadian English, as well as long-lasting contact with French and other
languages was the reason why Canadian stress was first studied by tracing British and American patterns in its stock. The search for
its national identity resulted in finding a certain share of both major English sources and a few others which are not to be found in
either of them. The goal of the present study is to test the lexicon included into the British and Canadian dictionaries for the frequency
of the accentual models in English, previously found on the basis of British-American differences in word stress. In particular, we
were interested in the occurrence of Canadian nationally specific features of pre-tonic and especially post-tonic rhythmical stresses.
The results of the research in the lexicographic sources verified the basic findings of the previous works by giving evidence of posttonic
pattern prevalence in Canadian English as opposed to the British pre-tonic one. Alongside with it, new data on the frequencies of syllabic word structures which facilitate the use of certain accentual patterns throw new light on the constraints and their actual spread in the Canadian English lexicon. |
Displays: 384; |