Thu-2-3-3 Rhythmic convergence in French in contact?

Abstract: Studies of prosodic rhythm in a minority Ontario French using rhythm metrics did not demonstrate the effect of contact with English; moreover, they demonstrated an even more syllable-timed (French) pattern in this contact variety than in majority Canadian and European ones. To understand these results and further explore regional variation in Canadian French and the effect of linguistic contact, syllabic typology, length and duration of the stress group, syllable duration ratios, and vowel intensity are explored here through a comparison of a minority variety with a majority Canadian French (Quebec). Spontaneous samples show the same syllabic typology and distribution, stress group length and duration, similar syllable ratios, and a regular rhythmic pattern in both Canadian varieties. The analysis of intensity of stressed syllables, however, suggested divergence of the datasets from both traditional description of French and from each other. Thus, intensity accompanies primary stress in Ontario but not in Quebec, and both varieties use intensity to mark secondary stress. These results suggest a convergence to the neighboring English language and need to be confirmed in a controlled setting.