Unity and Diversity in Acadian Phonology: An Overview Based on Comparisons Among the Nova Scotia Varieties

Abstract

The Acadian population of the Atlantic provinces is located in a number of geographically separate areas. Existing phonological descriptions of specific varieties have shown the existence of a great deal of diversity, but also much common ground. Little comparative work has been conducted to assess the extent to which the various regional varieties share the characteristics described for individual communities. New data are here brought to bear on these issues, drawn from the material collected in the course of a research project which has as its general objective the systematic charting of the linguistic differences and similarities among the Acadian communities of Nova Scotia. Features common to all these communities and to previously described varieties are distinguished from those which show interdialectal differences, and the nature of these differences is analyzed.