Acquiring Sociolinguistic Variation

This study examines the acquisition of T-glottalling among teenage migrants in London. Results show that constraint hierarchies based on native input begin to be approached after two years in England. Initially, variation is completely reallocated; however, as teenagers spend more time in England, constraints are becoming increasingly similar to those of native speakers. While some constraints are replicated completely, there is also evidence that, even after three years in the country, some are