Assessing contact-induced language change: The use of subject relative markers in Quebec English ∗

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between language contact and language change, this pilot study undertakes a comparative variationist analysis of relativizers used in subject function in mainstream Canadian and Quebec English. Overall rate of who is the same in both varieties and in multivariate analyses neither variety nor bilingual ability is selected as significant to variant choice, arguing against convergence. Differences in the linguistic conditioning of who across varieties suggest that it is mainstream English, not Quebec English, which has changed. While a breakdown of variant use by sex and age initially suggests contact-induced change, a comparison of speaker cohorts across varieties and a consideration of speaker characteristics fail to confirm convergence. Contributing to the debate on the use of WH-relativizers in spoken English, this study demonstrates that who is a viable option in Canadian English. It also provides evidence against claims that bilingualism is correlated with susceptibility to convergence.