From local to supra-local
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France Martineau
Abstract
This article discusses the ‘hybrid’ writing practices of two socially distinct (groups of) writers from nineteenth century French Canada; we specifically focus on their acceptance of (supra-)local language norms. We argue that the writers from the well-known bourgeois Papineau family progressively distanced themselves from a local norm (and moved towards a supra-local norm instead) over a time span of four generations. A semi-literate writer (peu-lettré), on the other hand, used writing practices as an object of social belonging, while at the same time his lack of control over the medium prevented him from getting full access to a supra-local norm. It appears, then, that the socially and geographically mobile writers (like the Papineau family) lead the way and that (access to) social networks was intrinsically related to literacy and access to supra-local norms.
Abstract
This article discusses the ‘hybrid’ writing practices of two socially distinct (groups of) writers from nineteenth century French Canada; we specifically focus on their acceptance of (supra-)local language norms. We argue that the writers from the well-known bourgeois Papineau family progressively distanced themselves from a local norm (and moved towards a supra-local norm instead) over a time span of four generations. A semi-literate writer (peu-lettré), on the other hand, used writing practices as an object of social belonging, while at the same time his lack of control over the medium prevented him from getting full access to a supra-local norm. It appears, then, that the socially and geographically mobile writers (like the Papineau family) lead the way and that (access to) social networks was intrinsically related to literacy and access to supra-local norms.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- The interplay of language norms and usage patterns. Comparing the history of Dutch, English, French and German 1
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Dutch
- Language norms and language use in seventeenth-century Dutch 21
- Language norms and language use in eighteenth-century Dutch 49
- Norms and usage in nineteenth-century Southern Dutch 73
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English
- Norms and usage in seventeenth-century English 103
- Eighteenth-century English normative grammars and their readers 129
- Nineteenth-century English 151
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French
- From l’usage to le bon usage and back 173
- Jacques-Louis Ménétra and his experience of the langue d’oc 201
- From local to supra-local 223
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German
- Language description, prescription and usage in seventeenth-century German 251
- Standard German in the eighteenth century 277
- Prescriptive norms and norms of usage in nineteenth-century German 303
- Index 321
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- The interplay of language norms and usage patterns. Comparing the history of Dutch, English, French and German 1
-
Dutch
- Language norms and language use in seventeenth-century Dutch 21
- Language norms and language use in eighteenth-century Dutch 49
- Norms and usage in nineteenth-century Southern Dutch 73
-
English
- Norms and usage in seventeenth-century English 103
- Eighteenth-century English normative grammars and their readers 129
- Nineteenth-century English 151
-
French
- From l’usage to le bon usage and back 173
- Jacques-Louis Ménétra and his experience of the langue d’oc 201
- From local to supra-local 223
-
German
- Language description, prescription and usage in seventeenth-century German 251
- Standard German in the eighteenth century 277
- Prescriptive norms and norms of usage in nineteenth-century German 303
- Index 321
