P. J. Trudell's 1971 Ph.D. thesis at the University of Edinburgh explores urban dialectology, sociological linguistics, and generative phonology through a study of Norwich, England. The research investigates the relationship between phonetic and phonological aspects of Norwich English and sociological parameters. It involves a survey of 60 informants, with interviews conducted to gather data on various sociological and linguistic features. The study aims to understand the co-variation of phonological features with social class, age, and sex, and to examine linguistic changes within the Norwich dialect. The thesis argues that sociological urban dialectology is valuable for obtaining accurate linguistic data and solving theoretical problems in linguistics and sociology. It also highlights the importance of Norwich in the broader East Anglia region, noting its cultural and commercial significance. The study reveals that Norwich English, while part of the South-East dialect, has distinct phonological and phonetic features. The research employs a theoretical framework of generative phonology to analyze the Norwich diasystem, which includes abstract phonological elements and rules that generate various types of Norwich English. The study also discusses the impact of social class and other sociological factors on linguistic variation, and the role of sociological techniques in understanding linguistic diversity. It emphasizes the importance of Norwich as a center of linguistic and cultural influence, and the need for further research into the effects of social and economic factors on language. The thesis concludes with a detailed analysis of the linguistic changes occurring in Norwich, and the implications of these changes for linguistic theory and practice.P. J. Trudell's 1971 Ph.D. thesis at the University of Edinburgh explores urban dialectology, sociological linguistics, and generative phonology through a study of Norwich, England. The research investigates the relationship between phonetic and phonological aspects of Norwich English and sociological parameters. It involves a survey of 60 informants, with interviews conducted to gather data on various sociological and linguistic features. The study aims to understand the co-variation of phonological features with social class, age, and sex, and to examine linguistic changes within the Norwich dialect. The thesis argues that sociological urban dialectology is valuable for obtaining accurate linguistic data and solving theoretical problems in linguistics and sociology. It also highlights the importance of Norwich in the broader East Anglia region, noting its cultural and commercial significance. The study reveals that Norwich English, while part of the South-East dialect, has distinct phonological and phonetic features. The research employs a theoretical framework of generative phonology to analyze the Norwich diasystem, which includes abstract phonological elements and rules that generate various types of Norwich English. The study also discusses the impact of social class and other sociological factors on linguistic variation, and the role of sociological techniques in understanding linguistic diversity. It emphasizes the importance of Norwich as a center of linguistic and cultural influence, and the need for further research into the effects of social and economic factors on language. The thesis concludes with a detailed analysis of the linguistic changes occurring in Norwich, and the implications of these changes for linguistic theory and practice.