Quotative be like in Northern Irish English and English in the Republic of Ireland
Keywords
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Issue Date
2024-06-28
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
This thesis explores the use of the quotative be like in spoken English in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, examining three linguistic factors: grammatical person, temporal reference, and quote content. The study reveals distinct regional differences in how these factors influence the use of quotative 'be like'. In both regions, 'be like' is more commonly used in first-person contexts than third-person ones. Temporal reference patterns differ, with Northern Ireland English favoring the historical present (HP) and the Republic of Ireland favoring the present tense. Regarding quote content, Northern Ireland English shows a preference for internal thought, while English in the Republic of Ireland favors direct speech. These findings suggest that Northern Ireland English aligns more closely with other English varieties, whereas English in the Republic of Ireland exhibits unique patterns. This research underscores the importance of regional variation in linguistic studies and enhances our understanding of be like in these English varieties.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Letteren