Associations among linguistic levels

In this paper we measure the degrees of association among aggregate pronunciational, lexical and syntactic differences in 70 Dutch dialect varieties. First, we show that pronunciation is marginally more strongly associated with syntax than it is with lexis and that syntax and lexis are only weakly associated. Then, we check for the influence of geography as an underlying factor because geography is known to strongly correlate with each of the linguistic levels under investigation. We find that pronunciation and syntax are more strongly associated with geography than lexis is. Finally, we refine the results by accounting for the influence of geography as an underlying factor and show that the association between pronunciation and syntax turns out to be largely based on geography. Some influence between pronunciation and syntax remains but the association between pronunciation and lexis is stronger. There is virtually no association between syntax and lexis.