Michael Ward (9) (1967–)

I don't know what this has to do with ESL (Ward's ostensible area) really, but what a great little study. Ward looks at interactions/similarities between the Canadian and Californian shifts and makes some stabs at that so-interesting question, are they the same thing (concluding probably, but Canadian rounded low back vowel means we have more space for ash-retraction and therefore they may become less similar in future--and that student I heard saying "cat" as "cot" bears this out). He tries to establish which one Portland is participating in and concludes both--does this mean it sits in the middle of the gradient? Or that there will be some sort of combination effect?--and shows that it is not likely age-graded or class-based (although led by working class teen girls, as one would expect). Cascadia rising!… (más)