Michael Marinaccio

De LaurentESE

Introduction

De laurentese. Sociolinguistic research on Giada De Laurentiis' English idiolect change over 20 seasons. Analyzes L2 US English influence on her heritage Italian speech, including vowels & VOT.

Abstract

An increasing amount of sociolinguistic research has been concentrated on diachronic idiolect change: the change of an individual’s dialect over time. This paper adds to this growing topic by analyzing the English idiolect change of Giada De Laurentiis, a heritage speaker of Italian. The study analyzes De Laurentiis’ LOT, START, and GOAT vowels, as well as the voice onset time (VOT) of voiceless stops [k] and [p] by measuring the utterances of the code-switched word ‘mascarpone’ across 20 seasons on television. The data reflect the influence of L2 US English (rhoticity, diphthongization, lengthened VOTs) on heritage Italian in De Laurentiis’ idiolect. 

Review

This paper tackles the increasingly relevant sociolinguistic phenomenon of diachronic idiolect change, focusing on how an individual’s dialect evolves over time. By analyzing the English idiolect of Giada De Laurentiis, a prominent heritage speaker of Italian, the study makes a compelling contribution to this growing field. A particular strength lies in the ambitious longitudinal design, meticulously tracking phonetic shifts across 20 seasons of television. The selection of specific acoustic features—LOT, START, and GOAT vowels, along with the voice onset time (VOT) of voiceless stops [k] and [p]—demonstrates a rigorous and precise approach to documenting the influence of L2 US English on a heritage speaker’s phonetic system. The methodological choice to focus exclusively on the code-switched word ‘mascarpone’ across two decades, while ingenious for its consistency, prompts consideration of the generalizability of the findings. While this approach offers a unique window into specific lexical and phonetic dynamics, the abstract could benefit from a brief justification of how this singular word adequately represents broader idiolectal change. The observed influences of L2 US English, including rhoticity, diphthongization, and lengthened VOTs, are clearly articulated and provide strong evidence for the central claim. However, for enhanced replicability and confidence in the findings, a concise indication of the acoustic analysis software or statistical methods employed to quantify these changes would be a valuable addition to the abstract. Overall, the paper titled 'De LaurentESE' presents a highly engaging and insightful case study into idiolectal evolution and language contact. It powerfully illustrates the dynamic interplay between a heritage language and a dominant second language, offering concrete phonetic evidence for the permeation of L2 features into a speaker's established idiolect. The work is significant for its granular analysis and longitudinal scope, providing a rich empirical foundation for understanding individual-level linguistic change. This study will undoubtedly stimulate further research into the mechanisms of idiolectal adaptation and the complex sociolinguistic landscape of heritage speakers, marking it as a valuable addition to the literature on language variation and change.

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