The variable pronunciation of /t, d/ before [i] in the speech of Sergipanos migrants living in São Paulo

Abstract

This article analyzes the usage of /t, d/ before [i] in the speech of Northeastern Brazilians from Sergipe residing in São Paulo, assuming that they are changing their speech according to the contacts established (or not) with Paulista(no)s. Using a sample constituted by 27 sociolinguistic interviews with members of two different social networks, this study tests the hypothesis that the ones who are part of the open network (with more contact with Paulistanos) palatalize more frequently /t, d/ than the ones who are part of the closed network. The effect of other social and linguistic factors was also verified. The analysis shows that the age of arrival and its interaction with the formal education level are relevant to the migrant’s pattern of speech: the ones who migrated younger and studied in São Paulo show higher rates of palatalization. Among the linguistic variables relevant to the phenomenon are voicing and preceding phonological context.