The Dynamics of Pronominal Variation: A Real-Time Analysis of Simple and Complex Pronouns In Montreal French

This article examines the variation between simple non-clitic forms (nous, vous, eux) and their complex counterparts with autres (nous autres, vous autres, eux autres). The study measures the progress of simple forms on a micro-diachronic scale between 1971 and 2012. The variationist analysis of sociolinguistic interviews collected In 2012 indicates a shift In favor of simple forms (48 % vs. 8 % in 1971). In 2012, simple forms are favored by young people, women and speakers in high and intermediate social positions. The analysis shows that it is young people who are driving the change with each new generation. Furthermore, the comparison indicates a stability of linguistic constraints between 1971 and 2012, with the simple form being favored in the first person and when the pronoun follows a preposition in both corpora.