V-W Interchange in Bermudian Eng

Bermudian English, named in 2002 by Peter Trudgill as one of the ‘lesser-known varieties of English’, has received little scholarly attention and is often misrepresented both critically and geographically. As a first step in investigating the variety, this paper examines one heavily stereotyped feature, previously described as ‘v-w confusion’ (Wells, 1982). Analysing a range of social and linguistic constraints, it aims to clarify the realisation of the two related variables /v/ and /w/, based on sociolinguistic interviews conducted with ten Bermudian females. Findings identify a salient ‘mid’ (bilabial fricative) variant, and show that while previous research and stereotyping in local media exaggerate switching, it does occur and has been passed to the younger generation. Analysis of attention to speech and metalinguistic commentary finds a very mixed local perception of the variety, which can be explained by the island’s unique socio-economic climate.