Variable grammars

Viac o knihe

The northern dialects of Britain and Ireland exhibit verbal agreement patterns that significantly diverge from Standard English, exemplified by constructions like "the children is singing" and "they are singing." This phenomenon, known as the 'Northern Subject Rule,' has roots in Middle English and was once a consistent grammatical system in older dialects. Today, it manifests in modern vernaculars as complex variable systems that blend traditional dialectal patterns with Standard English forms and contemporary supraregional influences. This study investigates the variable use of verbal agreement forms across Scotland, northern England, and Ulster, utilizing data from the mid-20th century's "Survey of English Dialects" to dialect recordings from the 1990s. By analyzing the continuities and discontinuities among the dialects, the research raises theoretical questions regarding the implications of these hybrid systems for a usage-based theory of grammatical competence. The examination of verb agreement in these northern dialects highlights the shift from a once cohesive system to a modern landscape characterized by variability and integration of diverse linguistic influences.