Place and dialect levelling in Denmark

Malene Monka

Place and dialect levelling in Denmark

Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics

90 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that processes of globalization such as urbanization and social and geographic mobility may on the one hand lead to dialect leveling and on the other hand to dialect awareness and celebration of linguistic localness (Johnstone 2010). The paper reports on a real time panel study in three towns in distinct dialect areas in Denmark. It examines language change in 18 speakers recorded in 1978 to 2010 and emphasizes the advantages of approaching ‘place’ from different angles when investigating patterns of language change.
At the time of the early recordings, the three towns were in different stages of ongoing dialect leveling processes (Pedersen 2003). In the town of Odder, dialect leveling was advanced (Nielsen and Nyberg 1992; 1993) informants’ language being regional dialect or regional standard (Auer, Hinskens et al. 2005). In the towns of Vinderup and Tinglev, informants’ languages featured substantial amounts of dialect features (Kristensen 1980; Pedersen 1986). In 2005 to 2010, researchers at the Danish National Research Center for Language Change in Real Time (LANCHART) and the University of Southern Denmark re-interviewed informants, thus providing data for investigating language change in real time (see www.lanchart.dk). The present paper focuses on the geographically non-mobile informants.
Quantitative analyses of morphological and phonological variables show different patterns of language change in the three towns. In Odder, language has changed slightly towards Danish standard. In Vinderup, dialect has been leveled extensively between recordings (especially among female informants), whereas in Tinglev, informants’ language has not changed at all. Despite the fact that these dialect areas are situated in a rather small country and have been subjected to similar processes of globalization results go in opposite directions. In order to explain the differences in language change found, attention must be given not only to space effects, i.e. distance, proximity, location as conceptualized in traditional approaches to dialect leveling (e.g. Trudgill 1974) – but also to place effects, i.e. the ensemble of sociolinguistic conditions within speech localities (Horvath and Horvath 2001; Britain 2009; Blommaert 2010). This paper examines the impact of social and structural factors of place (historic, demographic, and socio-economic) (e.g. Britain 2002) as well as phenomenological factors (conceptualizations of place, sense of belonging and sense of place) (Johnstone 2010; Quist 2010; Jørgensen, Fallov et al. 2011) on language change in real time.
Social and structural factors of place may explain why conceptualizations of – and perceived relations between – language and home town/region differ in the three towns. Qualitative analyses show that talk about talk (Johnstone 2004) is common and positive in Tinglev; rare and predominantly negative in Vinderup; and almost non-existent in Odder.

Auer, P., F. Hinskens, et al., Eds. (2005). Dialect Change Convergence and Divergence in European Languages.

Blommaert, J. (2010). The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Britain, D. (2002). Space and Spatial Diffusion. The Handbook of Language Variation and Change J. Chambers, P. Trudgill and N. Schilling-Estes, Blackwell: 603-637.

Britain, D. (2009). “Big bright lights” versus “green and pleasant land”? - The unhelpful dichotomy of ‘urban’ versus ‘rural’ in dialectology. Arabic dialectology. E. A.-W. a. R. d. Jong. Leiden, Brill: 223-246.

Horvath, B. M. and R. J. Horvath (2001). "A multilocality study of a sound change in progress: The case og /l/ vocalization in New Zealand and Australian English." Language Variation and Change 13(1): 37-57.

Johnstone, B. (2004). Place, Globalization, and Linguistic Variation. Sociolinguistic Variation - Critical Reflections. C. Fought. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Johnstone, B. (2010). Indexing the Local. Handbook of Language and Globalization N. Coupland. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 386-405.

Jørgensen, A., M. Fallov, et al. (2011). "Local Community, Mobility and Belonging." Danish Journal of Geoinformatics and Land Management 46(1).

Kristensen, K. (1980). "Situationsafhængig sprogbrug hos vestjyske skoleelever " Danske Folkemål 22(2): 29-124.

Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1992). "Talesprogvariation i Odder kommune. I. Lokalsprog og rigsmål i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 34: 45-202.

Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1993). "Talesprogsvariation i Odder kommune. II. Yngre og ældre rigsmålsformer i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 35: 249-348.

Pedersen, I. L. (2003). "Traditional dialects of Danish and the de-dialectalization 1900-200." International Journal of the Sociology of Language 159: 9-28.

Pedersen, K. M. (1986). Mødet mellem sprogene i den dansk-tyske grænseregion. En-, to- eller flersprogede børn i Sønderjylland. Aabenraa, Institut for Grænseregionsforskning.

Quist, P. (2010). Untying the language-body-place connection: A study on linguistic variation and social style in a Copenhagen community of practice. Language and Space. P. Auer and J. E. Schmidt. Berlin, De Gruyter Mouton: 632-648.

Trudgill, P. (1974). "Linguistic change and diffusion: description and explanation in sociolinguistic dialect geography." Language in Society 3: 215-246.

Original language	English
Publication date	2015
Publication status	Published - 2015
Event	Locating Language: A Symposium on the Linguistics of Place - Ohio State University, Ohio, United States Duration: 20 Apr 2013 → 21 Apr 2013

Conference

Conference	Locating Language
Location	Ohio State University
Country/Territory	United States
City	Ohio
Period	20/04/2013 → 21/04/2013

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Cite this

@conference{c71c6e14d1d143a9ac8de6d21f8d81ef,

title = "Place and dialect levelling in Denmark",

abstract = "This paper demonstrates that processes of globalization such as urbanization and social and geographic mobility may on the one hand lead to dialect leveling and on the other hand to dialect awareness and celebration of linguistic localness (Johnstone 2010). The paper reports on a real time panel study in three towns in distinct dialect areas in Denmark. It examines language change in 18 speakers recorded in 1978 to 2010 and emphasizes the advantages of approaching {\textquoteleft}place{\textquoteright} from different angles when investigating patterns of language change.At the time of the early recordings, the three towns were in different stages of ongoing dialect leveling processes (Pedersen 2003). In the town of Odder, dialect leveling was advanced (Nielsen and Nyberg 1992; 1993) informants{\textquoteright} language being regional dialect or regional standard (Auer, Hinskens et al. 2005). In the towns of Vinderup and Tinglev, informants{\textquoteright} languages featured substantial amounts of dialect features (Kristensen 1980; Pedersen 1986). In 2005 to 2010, researchers at the Danish National Research Center for Language Change in Real Time (LANCHART) and the University of Southern Denmark re-interviewed informants, thus providing data for investigating language change in real time (see www.lanchart.dk). The present paper focuses on the geographically non-mobile informants.Quantitative analyses of morphological and phonological variables show different patterns of language change in the three towns. In Odder, language has changed slightly towards Danish standard. In Vinderup, dialect has been leveled extensively between recordings (especially among female informants), whereas in Tinglev, informants{\textquoteright} language has not changed at all. Despite the fact that these dialect areas are situated in a rather small country and have been subjected to similar processes of globalization results go in opposite directions. In order to explain the differences in language change found, attention must be given not only to space effects, i.e. distance, proximity, location as conceptualized in traditional approaches to dialect leveling (e.g. Trudgill 1974) – but also to place effects, i.e. the ensemble of sociolinguistic conditions within speech localities (Horvath and Horvath 2001; Britain 2009; Blommaert 2010). This paper examines the impact of social and structural factors of place (historic, demographic, and socio-economic) (e.g. Britain 2002) as well as phenomenological factors (conceptualizations of place, sense of belonging and sense of place) (Johnstone 2010; Quist 2010; J{\o}rgensen, Fallov et al. 2011) on language change in real time. Social and structural factors of place may explain why conceptualizations of – and perceived relations between – language and home town/region differ in the three towns. Qualitative analyses show that talk about talk (Johnstone 2004) is common and positive in Tinglev; rare and predominantly negative in Vinderup; and almost non-existent in Odder.Auer, P., F. Hinskens, et al., Eds. (2005). Dialect Change Convergence and Divergence in European Languages. Blommaert, J. (2010). The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Britain, D. (2002). Space and Spatial Diffusion. The Handbook of Language Variation and Change J. Chambers, P. Trudgill and N. Schilling-Estes, Blackwell: 603-637. Britain, D. (2009). “Big bright lights” versus “green and pleasant land”? - The unhelpful dichotomy of {\textquoteleft}urban{\textquoteright} versus {\textquoteleft}rural{\textquoteright} in dialectology. Arabic dialectology. E. A.-W. a. R. d. Jong. Leiden, Brill: 223-246. Horvath, B. M. and R. J. Horvath (2001). {"}A multilocality study of a sound change in progress: The case og /l/ vocalization in New Zealand and Australian English.{"} Language Variation and Change 13(1): 37-57. Johnstone, B. (2004). Place, Globalization, and Linguistic Variation. Sociolinguistic Variation - Critical Reflections. C. Fought. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Johnstone, B. (2010). Indexing the Local. Handbook of Language and Globalization N. Coupland. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 386-405. J{\o}rgensen, A., M. Fallov, et al. (2011). {"}Local Community, Mobility and Belonging.{"} Danish Journal of Geoinformatics and Land Management 46(1). Kristensen, K. (1980). {"}Situationsafh{\ae}ngig sprogbrug hos vestjyske skoleelever {"} Danske Folkem{\aa}l 22(2): 29-124. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1992). {"}Talesprogvariation i Odder kommune. I. Lokalsprog og rigsm{\aa}l i sociolingvistisk belysning.{"} Danske Folkem{\aa}l 34: 45-202. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1993). {"}Talesprogsvariation i Odder kommune. II. Yngre og {\ae}ldre rigsm{\aa}lsformer i sociolingvistisk belysning.{"} Danske Folkem{\aa}l 35: 249-348. Pedersen, I. L. (2003). {"}Traditional dialects of Danish and the de-dialectalization 1900-200.{"} International Journal of the Sociology of Language 159: 9-28. Pedersen, K. M. (1986). M{\o}det mellem sprogene i den dansk-tyske gr{\ae}nseregion. En-, to- eller flersprogede b{\o}rn i S{\o}nderjylland. Aabenraa, Institut for Gr{\ae}nseregionsforskning. Quist, P. (2010). Untying the language-body-place connection: A study on linguistic variation and social style in a Copenhagen community of practice. Language and Space. P. Auer and J. E. Schmidt. Berlin, De Gruyter Mouton: 632-648. Trudgill, P. (1974). {"}Linguistic change and diffusion: description and explanation in sociolinguistic dialect geography.{"} Language in Society 3: 215-246. ",

author = "Malene Monka",

year = "2015",

language = "English",

note = "Locating Language ; Conference date: 20-04-2013 Through 21-04-2013",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Place and dialect levelling in Denmark

AU - Monka, Malene

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - This paper demonstrates that processes of globalization such as urbanization and social and geographic mobility may on the one hand lead to dialect leveling and on the other hand to dialect awareness and celebration of linguistic localness (Johnstone 2010). The paper reports on a real time panel study in three towns in distinct dialect areas in Denmark. It examines language change in 18 speakers recorded in 1978 to 2010 and emphasizes the advantages of approaching ‘place’ from different angles when investigating patterns of language change.At the time of the early recordings, the three towns were in different stages of ongoing dialect leveling processes (Pedersen 2003). In the town of Odder, dialect leveling was advanced (Nielsen and Nyberg 1992; 1993) informants’ language being regional dialect or regional standard (Auer, Hinskens et al. 2005). In the towns of Vinderup and Tinglev, informants’ languages featured substantial amounts of dialect features (Kristensen 1980; Pedersen 1986). In 2005 to 2010, researchers at the Danish National Research Center for Language Change in Real Time (LANCHART) and the University of Southern Denmark re-interviewed informants, thus providing data for investigating language change in real time (see www.lanchart.dk). The present paper focuses on the geographically non-mobile informants.Quantitative analyses of morphological and phonological variables show different patterns of language change in the three towns. In Odder, language has changed slightly towards Danish standard. In Vinderup, dialect has been leveled extensively between recordings (especially among female informants), whereas in Tinglev, informants’ language has not changed at all. Despite the fact that these dialect areas are situated in a rather small country and have been subjected to similar processes of globalization results go in opposite directions. In order to explain the differences in language change found, attention must be given not only to space effects, i.e. distance, proximity, location as conceptualized in traditional approaches to dialect leveling (e.g. Trudgill 1974) – but also to place effects, i.e. the ensemble of sociolinguistic conditions within speech localities (Horvath and Horvath 2001; Britain 2009; Blommaert 2010). This paper examines the impact of social and structural factors of place (historic, demographic, and socio-economic) (e.g. Britain 2002) as well as phenomenological factors (conceptualizations of place, sense of belonging and sense of place) (Johnstone 2010; Quist 2010; Jørgensen, Fallov et al. 2011) on language change in real time. Social and structural factors of place may explain why conceptualizations of – and perceived relations between – language and home town/region differ in the three towns. Qualitative analyses show that talk about talk (Johnstone 2004) is common and positive in Tinglev; rare and predominantly negative in Vinderup; and almost non-existent in Odder.Auer, P., F. Hinskens, et al., Eds. (2005). Dialect Change Convergence and Divergence in European Languages. Blommaert, J. (2010). The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Britain, D. (2002). Space and Spatial Diffusion. The Handbook of Language Variation and Change J. Chambers, P. Trudgill and N. Schilling-Estes, Blackwell: 603-637. Britain, D. (2009). “Big bright lights” versus “green and pleasant land”? - The unhelpful dichotomy of ‘urban’ versus ‘rural’ in dialectology. Arabic dialectology. E. A.-W. a. R. d. Jong. Leiden, Brill: 223-246. Horvath, B. M. and R. J. Horvath (2001). "A multilocality study of a sound change in progress: The case og /l/ vocalization in New Zealand and Australian English." Language Variation and Change 13(1): 37-57. Johnstone, B. (2004). Place, Globalization, and Linguistic Variation. Sociolinguistic Variation - Critical Reflections. C. Fought. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Johnstone, B. (2010). Indexing the Local. Handbook of Language and Globalization N. Coupland. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 386-405. Jørgensen, A., M. Fallov, et al. (2011). "Local Community, Mobility and Belonging." Danish Journal of Geoinformatics and Land Management 46(1). Kristensen, K. (1980). "Situationsafhængig sprogbrug hos vestjyske skoleelever " Danske Folkemål 22(2): 29-124. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1992). "Talesprogvariation i Odder kommune. I. Lokalsprog og rigsmål i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 34: 45-202. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1993). "Talesprogsvariation i Odder kommune. II. Yngre og ældre rigsmålsformer i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 35: 249-348. Pedersen, I. L. (2003). "Traditional dialects of Danish and the de-dialectalization 1900-200." International Journal of the Sociology of Language 159: 9-28. Pedersen, K. M. (1986). Mødet mellem sprogene i den dansk-tyske grænseregion. En-, to- eller flersprogede børn i Sønderjylland. Aabenraa, Institut for Grænseregionsforskning. Quist, P. (2010). Untying the language-body-place connection: A study on linguistic variation and social style in a Copenhagen community of practice. Language and Space. P. Auer and J. E. Schmidt. Berlin, De Gruyter Mouton: 632-648. Trudgill, P. (1974). "Linguistic change and diffusion: description and explanation in sociolinguistic dialect geography." Language in Society 3: 215-246.

AB - This paper demonstrates that processes of globalization such as urbanization and social and geographic mobility may on the one hand lead to dialect leveling and on the other hand to dialect awareness and celebration of linguistic localness (Johnstone 2010). The paper reports on a real time panel study in three towns in distinct dialect areas in Denmark. It examines language change in 18 speakers recorded in 1978 to 2010 and emphasizes the advantages of approaching ‘place’ from different angles when investigating patterns of language change.At the time of the early recordings, the three towns were in different stages of ongoing dialect leveling processes (Pedersen 2003). In the town of Odder, dialect leveling was advanced (Nielsen and Nyberg 1992; 1993) informants’ language being regional dialect or regional standard (Auer, Hinskens et al. 2005). In the towns of Vinderup and Tinglev, informants’ languages featured substantial amounts of dialect features (Kristensen 1980; Pedersen 1986). In 2005 to 2010, researchers at the Danish National Research Center for Language Change in Real Time (LANCHART) and the University of Southern Denmark re-interviewed informants, thus providing data for investigating language change in real time (see www.lanchart.dk). The present paper focuses on the geographically non-mobile informants.Quantitative analyses of morphological and phonological variables show different patterns of language change in the three towns. In Odder, language has changed slightly towards Danish standard. In Vinderup, dialect has been leveled extensively between recordings (especially among female informants), whereas in Tinglev, informants’ language has not changed at all. Despite the fact that these dialect areas are situated in a rather small country and have been subjected to similar processes of globalization results go in opposite directions. In order to explain the differences in language change found, attention must be given not only to space effects, i.e. distance, proximity, location as conceptualized in traditional approaches to dialect leveling (e.g. Trudgill 1974) – but also to place effects, i.e. the ensemble of sociolinguistic conditions within speech localities (Horvath and Horvath 2001; Britain 2009; Blommaert 2010). This paper examines the impact of social and structural factors of place (historic, demographic, and socio-economic) (e.g. Britain 2002) as well as phenomenological factors (conceptualizations of place, sense of belonging and sense of place) (Johnstone 2010; Quist 2010; Jørgensen, Fallov et al. 2011) on language change in real time. Social and structural factors of place may explain why conceptualizations of – and perceived relations between – language and home town/region differ in the three towns. Qualitative analyses show that talk about talk (Johnstone 2004) is common and positive in Tinglev; rare and predominantly negative in Vinderup; and almost non-existent in Odder.Auer, P., F. Hinskens, et al., Eds. (2005). Dialect Change Convergence and Divergence in European Languages. Blommaert, J. (2010). The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Britain, D. (2002). Space and Spatial Diffusion. The Handbook of Language Variation and Change J. Chambers, P. Trudgill and N. Schilling-Estes, Blackwell: 603-637. Britain, D. (2009). “Big bright lights” versus “green and pleasant land”? - The unhelpful dichotomy of ‘urban’ versus ‘rural’ in dialectology. Arabic dialectology. E. A.-W. a. R. d. Jong. Leiden, Brill: 223-246. Horvath, B. M. and R. J. Horvath (2001). "A multilocality study of a sound change in progress: The case og /l/ vocalization in New Zealand and Australian English." Language Variation and Change 13(1): 37-57. Johnstone, B. (2004). Place, Globalization, and Linguistic Variation. Sociolinguistic Variation - Critical Reflections. C. Fought. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Johnstone, B. (2010). Indexing the Local. Handbook of Language and Globalization N. Coupland. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 386-405. Jørgensen, A., M. Fallov, et al. (2011). "Local Community, Mobility and Belonging." Danish Journal of Geoinformatics and Land Management 46(1). Kristensen, K. (1980). "Situationsafhængig sprogbrug hos vestjyske skoleelever " Danske Folkemål 22(2): 29-124. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1992). "Talesprogvariation i Odder kommune. I. Lokalsprog og rigsmål i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 34: 45-202. Nielsen, B. J. and M. Nyberg (1993). "Talesprogsvariation i Odder kommune. II. Yngre og ældre rigsmålsformer i sociolingvistisk belysning." Danske Folkemål 35: 249-348. Pedersen, I. L. (2003). "Traditional dialects of Danish and the de-dialectalization 1900-200." International Journal of the Sociology of Language 159: 9-28. Pedersen, K. M. (1986). Mødet mellem sprogene i den dansk-tyske grænseregion. En-, to- eller flersprogede børn i Sønderjylland. Aabenraa, Institut for Grænseregionsforskning. Quist, P. (2010). Untying the language-body-place connection: A study on linguistic variation and social style in a Copenhagen community of practice. Language and Space. P. Auer and J. E. Schmidt. Berlin, De Gruyter Mouton: 632-648. Trudgill, P. (1974). "Linguistic change and diffusion: description and explanation in sociolinguistic dialect geography." Language in Society 3: 215-246.

M3 - Paper

T2 - Locating Language

Y2 - 20 April 2013 through 21 April 2013

ER -