The Transferability of Utah English Features: Second Dialect (D2) Acquisition in Utah

Second dialect (D2) acquisition, the process by which an individual learns a dialect other than their native dialect, is a relatively new subfield in socio-linguistics. The present study seeks to discern some of the steps involved in the process of D2 acquisition. The purpose of this thesis is three-fold: (1) to determine to what extent and how quickly people who move to Utah acquire features of Utah English, (2) to examine the role social factors play in the acquisition of Utah English to determine which, if any, factors are significant, and (3) to further define features of Utah English. I hypothesized that young Utahns would maintain Utah English, and that people who move to Utah would acquire Utah English features gradually, with those living in Utah the longest acquiring the most Utahisms. I also hypothesized the regionality index (RI) would reliably predict acquisition of Utahisms. The results of the study indicate that, contrary to my hypothesis, young Utahns are abandoning some features of Utah English, and the acquisition of Utah English features is not directly related to length of residence, RI (hometown, birthplace), or occupation. Other social factors such as education level, age, place of residence (big town vs. small town) did affect the extent of D2 acquisition. I also identified characteristics of Utah English which confirm previous research findings.

Thesis Author: Sarver, Daniel Alan

Year Completed: 2005

Committee Members: J. Scott Miller

Thesis Chair: Wendy Baker