Sub-dialect variation in the intonation of Donegal Irish

Abstract

The topic of this thesis is the analysis of sub-dialect variation in the intonation of Donegal (Ulster) Irish. The four local Donegal Irish varieties investigated are Rann na Feirste (RF), Baile na Finne (BF), Gleann Cholm Cille (GCC) and Ros Goill (RG). Donegal Irish is particularly interesting in terms of its intonation. An earlier study of Gaoth Dobhair Irish showed it to have overall default rising tunes in statements and also in questions, something which would be considered atypical. The predominance of nuclear rises in Donegal Irish makes it also strikingly different from the southern Irish dialects, which have most typically falling tunes. However, rising tunes have also been noted in Belfast English and in the so- called UNB (Urban Northern British) English varieties, such as Glasgow, where a possible Irish origin of this tune has been suggested. The main research goal is to illuminate the structure and detailed phonetic realisation of intonation of Donegal Irish in a way that takes potential sub-dialect variation into account. Specific related research questions are posed. Other questions potentially arise, concerning the relationship of Donegal Irish (and any sub-dialects found) to northern Irish English and to the UNB varieties of English for which rising nuclei have been described, something which in the past has been viewed as a possible influence of Irish. It is expected that the results of this study may provide a basis for such considerations. The investigation in this study concerned the prosodic analysis of tunes and their phonetic features, encompassing four different aspects: question/statement distinction, alignment of tonal targets relative to the segmental string, effects of focus on fo and duration and the analysis of some rhythmic features, using the PVI (Pairwise Variability Index) suite of measures.