Part of town as an independent factor: the <scp>north-force</scp> merger in Manchester

Abstract This paper investigates the question of whether, as is often popularly believed, there may be systematic linguistic differences between different neighborhoods within a city by testing independence “part town” factor separate from social class in north-force merger Manchester, UK, sample 122 speakers. The phonemic contrast explored minimal-pair tests, Cartesian distance, and Pillai scores. In opposition to most dialects English, still present displaying pattern fine stratification, with lower socioeconomic levels having stronger distinction. progress city, but it slower north showing significantly greater distinction than rest independent class. results indicate degree evaluation vowels, implications for meaning progress.