Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Dialect Identification of Swedish Dialects by Speakers of Scanian

Grankvist, Anton LU (2026) ALSK13 20261
Division of Linguistics , Cognitive Semiotics and Rhetoric
General Linguistics
Abstract
This study investigates Scanian Swedes’ dialect identification ability of seven Swedish regional dialects. Particularly, the study aims to find out whether or not the scientific division of Swedish dialect regions more or less overlap with actual speakers’ ability to differentiate between dialects. It also investigates some idiosyncratic participant variables that affect dialect identification ability. 22 native Swedish speakers from the Scania region of Sweden were presented with speech samples spanning seven dialect regions of Sweden and asked to perform a dialect identification test by paring the speech samples marked regions of Sweden. The answers were then compiled and accuracy rates were analysed with respect to participants’ ages... (More)
This study investigates Scanian Swedes’ dialect identification ability of seven Swedish regional dialects. Particularly, the study aims to find out whether or not the scientific division of Swedish dialect regions more or less overlap with actual speakers’ ability to differentiate between dialects. It also investigates some idiosyncratic participant variables that affect dialect identification ability. 22 native Swedish speakers from the Scania region of Sweden were presented with speech samples spanning seven dialect regions of Sweden and asked to perform a dialect identification test by paring the speech samples marked regions of Sweden. The answers were then compiled and accuracy rates were analysed with respect to participants’ ages and the dialects featured in the speech samples. The results show that younger speakers tend to be less accurate in their ability to identify the dialects compared to older speakers. It is also found that participants are much more likely to correctly identify dialects that are geographically close to their own. However, whenever listeners incorrectly identify a dialect, their answer is likely to be that of a geographically neighbouring region. The results indicate that ability to identify dialects is likely be tied to experience with the dialect, since age and geographic closeness are major factors. Furthermore the results indicate that the scientific division of these dialects is rather closely tied to speakers' perception of the dialects. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Grankvist, Anton LU
supervisor
organization
course
ALSK13 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Dialect, Dialect Identification, Scanian, Swedish
language
English
id
9239715
date added to LUP
2026-07-09 14:37:13
date last changed
2026-07-09 14:37:13
@misc{9239715,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates Scanian Swedes’ dialect identification ability of seven Swedish regional dialects. Particularly, the study aims to find out whether or not the scientific division of Swedish dialect regions more or less overlap with actual speakers’ ability to differentiate between dialects. It also investigates some idiosyncratic participant variables that affect dialect identification ability. 22 native Swedish speakers from the Scania region of Sweden were presented with speech samples spanning seven dialect regions of Sweden and asked to perform a dialect identification test by paring the speech samples marked regions of Sweden. The answers were then compiled and accuracy rates were analysed with respect to participants’ ages and the dialects featured in the speech samples. The results show that younger speakers tend to be less accurate in their ability to identify the dialects compared to older speakers. It is also found that participants are much more likely to correctly identify dialects that are geographically close to their own. However, whenever listeners incorrectly identify a dialect, their answer is likely to be that of a geographically neighbouring region. The results indicate that ability to identify dialects is likely be tied to experience with the dialect, since age and geographic closeness are major factors. Furthermore the results indicate that the scientific division of these dialects is rather closely tied to speakers' perception of the dialects.}},
  author       = {{Grankvist, Anton}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Dialect Identification of Swedish Dialects by Speakers of Scanian}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}