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The Dynamics of English in Namibia: Perspectives on an emerging variety
Edited by Anne Schröder
[Varieties of English Around the World G65] 2021
► pp. 111–134

Chapter 6
The phonetics of Namibian English

Investigating vowels as local features in a global context

| Bielefeld University
| Bielefeld University
| University of Regensburg

Namibian English (NamE) is frequently referred to as an offspring of (White) South African English (SAfrE), although more recently researchers have tried to describe it as a variety in its own right. In particular, Kautzsch and Schröder (2016) describe several phonetic features seemingly specific to NamE and unattested in other (South) African Englishes. This paper takes up some of their findings and provides further evidence for Namibian-specific realisations of vowels by investigating a supposedly NamE-specific nurse–work split and comparing realisations of the trap–dress merger attested in some varieties of SAfrE. The paper supports the claim that NamE should be considered a variety in its own right, further demonstrating that it should not be seen as a monolithic whole.

Keywords: World Englishes, Southern African Englishes, English in Namibia, Namibian English, phonetic variation, ethnic variation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.On the characteristics of Namibian English (NamE): A focus on vowels
  • 3.The trap–dress merger and the nurse–work split in NamE revisited
    • 3.1Data collection and analysis
    • 3.2The trap–dress merger revisited
    • 3.3The nurse–work split revisited
    • 3.4Discussion
  • 4.Conclusion and outlook
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 10 September 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g65.06sch
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