Peter Trudgill's 1974 Norwich study dealt with the patterns of pronunciation associated with class and prestige. In particular Trudgill considered words with "ing" endings, with particular attention given to whether a subject used a velar consonant ending (walkin') or an aveolar consonant ending (walking). The velar consonant was associated by the subjects with lower social status use, and the aveolar consonant ending with higher social status use.
The most noted finding of Trudgill's study was a difference in gender usage. Women tended to use, or attempt to use the aveolar "ing," associating themselves with higher social status, and with refinement. Conversely, men often affected a "coarser" velar pronunciation, often aiming below their own actual social status.
The findings were that the velar "walkin'" ending was in fact more strongly found in lower-class speech. Women believed themselves to use upper-class aveolar "ing" more than they actually did. The more carefully any subject spoke, the higher the level of aveolar "ing" endings. Men of all classes used velar "walkin'" endings more than women of the same class.
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