Petrenko O. Sociophonetic Variability of the Modern German Language.

The thesis opens a new trend in sociophonetic research, namely social stratification of the modern languages on the phonetic-phonological level. In the thesis present-day variability of the native speakers’ speech in Germany is analysed with the help of the situation-stratification method of investigation. The research determines variable rules of German consonant and vowel realization in a number of sociolects, sexolects, children’s speech, certain idiolects in the different life periods of the speakers (annolect). The data obtained and conclusions on the speech sociophonetic investigation encourage further development and polishing of the received German pronunciation norms based on the investigation of the relations between social and language structures, synchronic dynamics of the German sound system with the help of sociophonetic research methods.