JB-UK Isoglosses (IMAGE)
Caption
Each black line is an 'isogloss' generated by Burridge's model. An isogloss is a line which separates regions where one pronunciation dominates from a region where another dominates (an example pronunciation could be how people pronounce the 'a' in bath). If a traveller travelled over a zone where many isoglosses had bundled together (such as the 'North-south' bundle that connects the Bristol Channel to The Wash shown here) they would experience a sharp/noticeable transition between dialect. Whereas when the lines are more spread out, or messy, the traveller might hear more of a gradual dialect change. The darker orange colours represent higher population density. In the right hand plot people have greater mobility - they regularly travel 10km or more around their home. In the left hand plot they only travel about 5km.
Credit
James Burridge, University of Portsmouth
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