# Frequency-Based Professionalism Evaluation of (ing) and (t)-Deletion in England and Pennsylvania

## TL;DR

This study compares how people in England and Pennsylvania evaluate the professionalism of certain speech patterns, finding regional differences in perception.

## Contribution

The study provides new cross-regional insights into how frequency of linguistic features affects perceived professionalism.

## Key findings

- In Pennsylvania, the frequency of [ɪn] significantly affects perceived professionalism ratings.
- Listeners' awareness of the attitude target influences their professionalism ratings.
- (t)-deletion variation did not show significant regional differences in perception.

## Abstract

This study investigates the social evaluation of linguistic variation and the cognitive monitoring processes involved. Recognizing the need for cross-regional research that keeps experimental factors constant, we focus on (ing) and (t)-deletion. We investigate frequency evaluation as managed in England, UK (N = 200), and in Pennsylvania, US (N = 150). Results for (ing) indicate no significant effect of [ɪn]-frequency in England, while in Pennsylvania the frequency of [ɪn] significantly affects ratings regarding perceived professionalism. We also found evidence for listeners’ awareness of the attitude target (N = 15) to affect their ratings regarding perceived professionalism. Variation in (t)-deletion did not prompt any significant differences.