Sibilants in western Andalusian Spanish

Abstract

This chapter studies sibilant variation within the Andalusian dialectal continuum with special focus on Jerezano Spanish. Applying a sociolinguistic approach, we investigate the metalinguistic knowledge about a possible phonic norm in western Andalusia that, in regard to sibilants, presumably diverges from the national standard of Peninsular Spanish. In western Andalusia, the norma sevillana, “Sevillian norm,” implies a shift to seseo from the national standard distinction. Methodologically, we distinguish between representations based on concrete perceptions and metalinguistic representations in order to determine if there are differences between metalinguistic knowledge and knowledge based on direct perceptions. Both results show a clear division between a ceceante (Jerez and rural western Andalusia) and a seseante zone (Seville capital and the other provincial capitals of western Andalusia). The speakers themselves believe in the non-existence of a Sevillian norm based on seseo for the speech community analyzed. In doing so, this metalinguistic study strengthens socio-phonetic data on Jerezano Spanish and, consequently, combines new perspectives on the existing research on sibilants in peninsular varieties from both linguists’ and speakers’ contributions.