Deciphering the social fabric of /R/ in word-final in Chetti language

Background and Purpose: The evolution of languages over time can be traced through investigating language variation. Despite its significance, this aspect has been largely ignored in studies of minority languages like Chetti. Therefore, this study strives to address this gap by examining phonological variation, focusing on the variability of the sound “r” in word-final position in Chetti language. The research aims to explore how social factors such as age, gender, social class, and speech styles relate to the use of /r/ in word-final, and to identify distinct linguistic variations within the Chetti community. Methodology: Data was collected through interviews with 37 Chetti speakers and analysed using the Labovian quantitative analysis approach. Non-parametric statistical tests, the Kruskal Wallis Test and the Mann-Whitney U Test, were used to determine significant differences in stylistic and social variations, given non-normally distributed data. Moreover, index score was used to examine the influence of social and stylistic variances on linguistic variables. It quantified the likelihood and extent of using specific linguistic variants by measuring pronunciation shifts between standard and non-standard forms. Findings: Results show that [r] and [ø] variants are used interchangeably by the speakers. Although age and social class influence the use of /r/ in word-final position, no significant difference is found based on gender. Contributions: This study sheds light on phonological variation in the Chetti community and emphasises the importance of employing quantitative analysis methods. It underscores the intricate relationship between language, society, and phonological variation, paving the way for further research. Keywords: Phonological variation, Chetti language, minority language, quantitative sociolinguistics, urban dialectology.