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Part of
Sociolinguistic Variation and Language Acquisition across the Lifespan
Edited by Anna Ghimenton, Aurélie Nardy and Jean-Pierre Chevrot
[Studies in Language Variation 26] 2021
► pp. 277–294

Chapter 12
Identity, authenticity and dialect acquisition

The case of Australian English

| University of New England

The importance of dialect in indexing identity has been well described for ethnic and regional dialects, such as African American English (e.g. Rickford & Rickford 2000) and Pittsburghese (e.g. Johnstone & Kiesling 2008), but not so much for national dialect (although Portnoy 2011 on Austrian German is one example). This chapter examines dialect and national identity, focussing on Australian English, and especially on accent. It also explores the issues of authenticity, ownership and legitimacy and their effect on the acquisition of Australian English by speakers of other dialects, and on second dialect acquisition in general.

Article outline
  • 1.Australian English and national identity
  • 2.Acquisition of Australian English as a second dialect
    • 2.1Explanation from previous research
    • 2.2Authenticity and legitimacy
      • 2.2.1Insider views
      • 2.2.2Outsider views
        • Reactions to the views of others
        • Personal views
  • 3.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 16 August 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/silv.26.12sie
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