Southeastern phonology: consonants

TH

London and Southeastern accents have sociolinguistically variable TH fronting (i.e. the use of [f] and [v] for / θ / and /ð/ , respectively). In these accents, TH fronting can apply to / θ / in all positions (e.g. think, something, mouth) and to /ð/  in non-initial position (e.g. brother, with). In the case of /ð/ in initial position, /d/ (or ø, as in  for and that) are more likely alternatives.

The labio-dental variants have traditionally been socially stigmatized, and therefore tend to be avoided by middle-class speakers. Neither Altendorf (2003) nor Tollfree (1999) found them in the speech of their middle-class informants. However, there are reports that TH fronting is now on the verge of spreading into Southeastern middle-class accents. Williams and Kerswill (1999: 160, Table 8.8) have found instances of TH fronting in male and female middle-class speech in Milton Keynes and male middle-class speech in Reading. In both towns, TH fronting affects sexes and classes in the following order: working-class boys > working-class girls > middle-class boys > middle-class girls. In terms of change in apparent time, this pattern is indicative of a “change from below” in the social sense of the term. It has started in male working-class speech and is now working its way “upwards” to female middle-class speakers. At the moment, this development is still at an early stage. Accordingly, labio-dental fricatives in the speech of female middle-class speakers in Milton Keynes (14.3%) and Reading (0%) are infrequent or altogether absent. This could also explain why they do not occur in the London surveys by Altendorf (2003) and Tollfree (1999).