Field Project: data due by 10pm on 10 November, 2004
Rapid and Anonymous Study of (r) in Philadelphia

1. This assignment calls for a rapid and anonymous study of the kind that was initiated in the New York City department store study described in Labov 1972  The technique we will use is “Asking for directions.”

2. We will be using two place names in Philadelphia containing /r/ in post-vocalic, pre-consonantal position: Market and Girard. The second contains two /r/ consonants, and is most likely to show /r/ deletion through dissimilation.

3. Each person or pair should gather data in two of the following areas:
- a racially mixed area in West Philadelphia
- the racially mixed area behind the Art Museum
- Center City north of Market St.
- South Philadelphia near the Ninth St. Market (The “Italian Market”, between
Christian St. and Washington St. on 9th St..)

4. Procedure:
Approach someone who appears to be local, and ask,
a. “Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Market Avenue?”
b. “Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Girard Street?”
or some equivalent form that is natural to you. Listen carefully to the directions given, noting each time the person pronounces the words Girard or Market whether the /r/ is pronounced as a constricted liquid consonant, or as a lengthening of the vowel. Go in the direction the person indicated, and when out of sight, write down the information.

5. Quantity of data
Each individual should carry out at least ten R&A interviews in each of the two areas selected, with roughly a total of ten Market and ten Girard tokens. If working in pairs, carry out at least twenty R&A interviews in each of the two areas selected.

6. Entering data.