Austrian Politicians' Sociophonological Variation

The lang situation in Austria is outlined with special reference to the dialect/Standard German relationship. Problems of phonological variation are addressed within the framework of natural phonology, & the phenomena of dialectal input-switch rules & dialectal borrowing & assimilation are discussed. Interviews with Austrian federal politicians (Rs = 8) representing the three major political parties of Austria were analyzed for dialectal influences on phonology, & the relationship between phonological variation & the speaker's SS. It is found that the SS-related phonological variation valid for the Vienna area in general applies also to the politicians' speech. 2 Tables, 32 References. Z. Dubiel