Dialect acquisition by 'new speakers' of Dutch and their linguistic othering

L. Cornips*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first section summarises what little is known about the acquisition of dialects and dialect features by locally born speakers whose parent(s) have a migration background, thus second-generation migrants in the Netherlands. The second part focusses on the province of Dutch Limburg, which is known for its widespread and active use of dialect, also in the public domain. The paper explores how new speakers acquire a dialect in Limburg but are restricted in their use of it by others who consider themselves the authentic speakers of this dialect. The linguistic othering of speakers with a migration background by these 'authentic' speakers has the effect that the 'new' speakers, although proficient in the dialect, do not use it in their daily practice or feel uncomfortable to use it.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 21 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • authenticity
  • autochtoon and allochtoon
  • belonging
  • birthright
  • dialect features
  • linguistic othering
  • Dialect features

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