The sociolinguistics of lisping: a review

ABSTRACT

This article presents a review of the lisping research literature with the aim of providing a framework for the consideration of the sociolinguistics of lisping. We consider, in turn, the nature of lisping, the construction of identity through speech, the nature of stigma, and, in particular, stigma associated with communication disorders and especially lisping. Further, we examine two aspects of the literature on lisping in more detail: lisping as minor bodily stigma and lisping and the internet. We conclude that experiential research on identity construction at the level of the individual, and stigma theory at a collective speech community level, support the case for viewing the sociolinguistics of lisping as a legitimate field of study and establishing a framework for acknowledgment of and further investigation into the self-identified adult who lisps.

KEYWORDS:

• Sociolinguistics
• lisping
• stigma
• identity construction

Statement of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Notes

¹ The review was prepared as part of a larger study (Lockenvitz, 2016).

² These terms refer to replacement of alveolar targets by dental place of articulation, and target central fricatives by lateral ones, respectively.