Abstract
This paper has three goals: (1) to document the factors shaping is-contraction in Mainstream American English; (2) to assess the extent to which these factors also shape contraction of has; (3) to use shared patterns of contraction across the two verbs to draw conclusions about how the varying forms are represented grammatically. While is has two distinct phonological forms in variation, has has three. This necessitates regression modeling which can handle non-binary response variables; I use Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo modeling. Through this modeling, I (1) uncover a number of novel predictors shaping contraction of is, and (2) demonstrate that many of the patterns shown by is are also in evidence for has. I also (3) argue that modeling has-variation as the product of two stages of binary choices—a common treatment of three-way variation in variationist sociolinguistics—cannot adequately explain the quantitative patterns, which are only compatible with a grammatical model under which three distinct forms vary with each other. The findings have theoretical and methodological consequences for sociolinguistic work on ternary variables.
Highlights
Several English verbs can surface in at least two forms: one with all phonological material intact (e.g., [Iz]), and one which is phonologically reduced and cliticized to its host (e.g., [z])
One influential strand of work has compared the patterns of tensed be contraction in Mainstream American English to the patterns shown by tensed be absence in African American Vernacular English, and used the parallels between them to conclude that comparable processes drive the variation in both varieties
Four predictors pertaining to the syntax, semantics, and phonology of the host phrase have clear effects on the variation
Summary
Several English verbs can surface in at least two forms: one with all phonological material intact (e.g., [Iz]), and one which is phonologically reduced and cliticized to its host (e.g., [z]). The variation between these two forms, known as contraction, has been investigated in a wide variety of corpora of both spoken and written language. The variation under study in this paper is the phonological realization of two tensed English verbs: is and has. These verbs can variably surface in a number of phonologically distinct forms.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
