Glide Insertion in Syllables Ending in /s

The variable rule for diphthong formation in syllables ended by /s/ is the focus of this study. The hypothesis that motivated the research is that, opposed to what is verified in some regions of Brazil, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul the diphthongation is an incipient process. Having as the basic objective to offer linguistic or sociolinguistic explanations, the phenomenon has been analysed under the perspective of the Labovian sociolinguistics (Labov, 1972, 1994). The conclusion is that, in Rio Grande do Sul, the dipthongation in syllables ended by /s/ would not be motivated by phonological-phonetic or social factors, but that its implementation could be caused by lexical diffusion. 6 Tables, 3 Boxes, 27 References. Adapted from the source document