https://doi.org/10.53656/for2024-04-11

The work under review «Social and Prosodic Variation of English speech» by Maryna Chesnokova focuses on sociolinguistic analysis of prosodic characteristics in American speech of interviewees of different age, gender and regional groups.

The paper constitutes a critical review of all results obtained in this area and summarizes all research in this branch of linguistics in the last 50 years conducted by world-famous scholars. The thesis deals with the main stages in the evolution of sociolinguistics as a science, presents the main trends in the development of speech and speech behavior of different age groups, analyzes existing age classifications, specifies basic prosodic features of American spontaneous speech, describes the impact of sociodemographic factors on personality and its speech, reveals the dynamics of prosodic changes in the speech of various age, gender and regional groups.

Such a wide range of material enables the author to treat one of the most comprehensive problems of anthropometrical approach to linguistic science in its modern phonological paradigm. Importance of the problem is especially emphasized in the Introduction (4 pages) and revealed in the Chapter 1 “Sociolinguistics as an integrative scientific branch in the framework of modern research”, which covers 34 pages, comprising sub-paragraphs devoted to the general outlook on sociolinguistics by Labov, Hymes, Fishman, Trudgill and others. A lot of work has been published in sociolinguistics and its trend, eco-linguistics, taking into account both synchronic and diachronic approach and 2 main levels macro- and micro-sociolinguistic, still, gender being sociocultural construct remains the utmost attraction for scientists. In this respect, Maryna Chesnokova did her best in attempt to explore the process of impact of gender and age on the speech and to integrate knowledge in social stratification of speech, which should be warmly welcomed.

The necessity of phono styles revision is discussed in the Chapter 1 as well as reference to Steiner-John, Smith, Crystal and Leon is obvious due to the notion of language as a norm, system versus individual of sociolect concerning differential peculiarities and characteristics surveyed by Gumperz, Macaulay, Clark. All abovementioned eloquently justifies the main reason why Chesnokova M. was inspired to undertake this research.

The author’s main achievement gained in the Chapter 2 “Social-status characteristics of speech behavior” dedicated to speech behavior features in correlation to social status of trend study by Eckert.

The Chapter 2, which covers 29 pages, comprises paragraphs devoted to the analysis of age stages in relation to speech formation and expression process. Herein, all the methods and means of age variation in speech are represented from the socio-phonetical point of view (Payne, Mock, Kerswill, Williams, Giles).

Gender variability of speech is discussed by the author with an utmost care and accuracy. The peculiarities of male and female speech, surveyed by world scholars, are drawn in detail as well. M. Chesnokova’s research reveals the peculiarities of female stereotype and proves that American women mostly resort to prosodic patterns associated with expression of politeness, surprise, excitement and acute comprehension of surrounding but they never sound categoric. The conclusion concerning the interplay of both genders communicative roles forming moulded androgenic type of a speaker deserves recognition and further insight, as fashion dictates the third gender to be emerging.

Chapter 3 “Prosodic peculiarities of speech taking into account the age and gender of speakers”, which covers 30 pages, is aimed at the experiment itself and description of results obtained by Maryna Chesnokova, who produced a thorough investigation worth her efforts spared. One has to admit that any phonetic experiment, being elaborate in its nature, deserves respect and should be highly praised. Comprehensively developed methodology of instrumental phonetic research has made it possible to reveal and visualize the distinctive pitch, temporal and dynamic characteristics of speech, which serve group markers. In this section of the book by Chesnokova M. information is given in schemes, tables and illustrations with the explanation followed reflecting the author’s point of view on new data obtained, that makes it extremely vivid and interesting to read.

In addition to abovementioned merits of the reviewed paper, rich experience, up-to-date methods, adequate measurements and statistics proves the hypothesis made at the starting point and allow to come to invaluable Conclusions (2 pages) for all age groups speech samples. Considerations are clear and consistent, a wide grasp of literature, deep theoretical foundation, profound phonological analysis are the advantages of the book under review, which is logically structured and written in highly professional scientific style. References are arranged in alphabetical order; the bibliography encompasses not only English speaking sources but many books in other languages (altogether 188 items).

Giving consideration to disadvantages, manuscript has a few shortcomings.

While describing the methods of conducting the instrumental analysis, Chesnokova Maryna should have determined particular tasks for the informants who took part in the auditory analysis, and it would be better to identify whether they were native speakers being specialists in the field of phonetics. That would add more proof to the results of the experiment. Regretfully, the author hasn’t focused on the impact of profession/occupation of the speakers on the prosodic arrangement of their speech. Probably, it might be the issues for further projects of the researcher.

To sum up, it can be said that incidental mistakes in no way prevent the value of this work, which could be recommended for post-graduate students and scholars majoring in sociolinguistics and socio-phonetics. Moreover, it might be useful for those who are interested in history and development of English language.

ЛИТЕРАТУРА

ЧЕСНОКОВА, М.В. Соціальна та просодична варіативність англійського мовлення. Монографія. Одеса: НУ «ОМА», 2023, с.1 – 140. ISBN 978-617-7857-32-6.

REFERENCES

CHESNOKOVA, M.V., 2023. Sotsіalyna ta prosodichna varіativnіsty anglіysykogo movlennya. Monografіya. Odesa: NU «OMA», р.1 – 140. ISBN 978-617-7857-32-6.