Sociophonetics and vowels

The study of vowel variation has featured prominently in advancing sociophonetic theory and methods, driving technological innovation and motivating the formulation of novel research questions. From the very early days of the discipline, quantitative analysis of vowels has been an enduring presence, with acoustic analysis playing a central role. New approaches to the investigation of vowel variation have led to the development of sophisticated analysis techniques and statistical modeling processes. In this chapter we discuss the antecedents to sociophonetic analysis of vowels, the new insights and methods that ignite our curiosity and advance understanding of socio-indexical vowel variation, and we consider future prospects for the field. We also discuss select methodological and theoretical issues that are the subject of robust debate within the sociophonetic community. Finally, we present a case study illustrating the impact that different analytical approaches can have on the acoustic examination vowels.