Morpho-phonetic variation in the spoken French media: A comparison of three sociolinguistic variables

While recent studies have provided pivotal insights into the use of a range of sociolinguistic variables by speakers of Hexagonal French, this paper aims to illuminate how their usage may diverge/converge in the spoken language of the media. Based on a quantitative study of liaison realisation, /1/ deletion, and 'ne' deletion, the paper compares a number of trends behind their usage by journalists with those previously identified in that profession and among the general public. Results suggest that sociolinguistic variation is by no means a uniform phenomenon among journalists, but rather a number of (socio)linguistic factors impinge on such variation, just as in the case of the public. The results are discussed in terms of the differences and similarities that emerge across the variables, such that the specificity of the sociolinguistic variable in itself is seen to impact significantly on its use.