LINGUIST List 18.2404
Tue Aug 14 2007
Diss: Socioling: Kleinberg: 'Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language ...'
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Directory
1. David
Kleinberg,
Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Message 1: Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Date: 13-Aug-2007
From: David Kleinberg <davidkleinberg.net>
Subject: Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria
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Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Program: Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2006
Author: David Kleinberg
Dissertation Title: Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Dissertation URL: http://www.kleinberg.net/Dissertation/Kleinberg-Dissertation.pdf
Linguistic Field(s):
Sociolinguistics
Subject Language(s): German, Standard (deu)
Dissertation Director:
Paul T. Roberge
Dissertation Abstract:
A statistical analysis of data collected via self-reporting questionnairesand participant observation in Ried im Innkreis, Austria, shows that thespeakers in this community typically prefer to speak their local dialectrather than Standard German or colloquial varieties, at a significantlyhigher frequency in more domains than speakers in other communities ofsimilar size in Austria. Data from Ried im Innkreis are compared withresults from Steinegger (1998) and Wiesinger (1989b), in which similarsurveys were distributed throughout Austria. Factors that typicallycorrelate with the choice of dialect over colloquial or standard varietiesof German in large cities in Austria, such as socioeconomic class, do notplay a significant role in Ried im Innkreis due to the small size of thecommunity. The same trends apparent in the rest of the Austria with regardto gender are apparent in Ried. Males report that they speak dialectslightly more often than females, and a decrease in dialect useby females is indicated which corresponds to typical child-raising yearsand retirement. The trends for age and dialect frequency are generallyconsistent with previous findings for Austria. School-aged speakers reportthat they use dialect more often than adults. Adult commuters speak dialectmore often than non-commuters in intimate situations with family andfriends. School-aged commuters report that they speak less dialect thannon-commuters in school and when speaking with strangers. Social networkstrength is a significant factor, and correlates positively with frequencyof dialect use, but only in situations where speaker is in their own socialnetwork. Speakers' attitudes regarding dialect and Standard German,speakers of dialect, and their own choice of speech variety can providepsychological explanations for their choice of variety in a given domain.Positive attitudes regarding the dialect itself, speakers of the localdialect and local loyalty are positively correlated with frequency ofdialect use. Predictions for the future vitality of the local dialect arealso made, based on current and historical demographic trends and therespondents' attitudes regardingdialect and standard varieties of German.
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