The sociolinguistic relevance of regional categories
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Philippe Hambye
Abstract
Several authors have claimed that regional variation in language is no longer very relevant in the French context. In this paper we aim to investigate whether this claim is also valid in Belgium. Although linguistic practices in Wallonia have shown a strong tendency towards homogenization (a term we define below), they are still perceived as significantly different from the standard norm prevalent in France and also as showing internal diversity. Through the analysis of a phonological variable (word-final consonant devoicing), we try to assess to what extent linguistic practices in Wallonia differ from standard French and whether they also manifest significant internal diversity. Our results show that these differences are substantial and reveal structurally distinct ways of speaking French in the areas under scrutiny.
Abstract
Several authors have claimed that regional variation in language is no longer very relevant in the French context. In this paper we aim to investigate whether this claim is also valid in Belgium. Although linguistic practices in Wallonia have shown a strong tendency towards homogenization (a term we define below), they are still perceived as significantly different from the standard norm prevalent in France and also as showing internal diversity. Through the analysis of a phonological variable (word-final consonant devoicing), we try to assess to what extent linguistic practices in Wallonia differ from standard French and whether they also manifest significant internal diversity. Our results show that these differences are substantial and reveal structurally distinct ways of speaking French in the areas under scrutiny.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
-
Section I. Phonological variation and leveling
- Introduction 3
- Perception and production in French dialect leveling 9
- The sociolinguistic relevance of regional categories 25
- Prosodic style-shifting as audience design 43
- The immigrant factor in phonological leveling 63
- A prototype-theoretic model of Southern French 77
- The law of position revisited 95
-
Section II. Stylistic and syntactic variation
- Introduction 115
- Variation in first and second language French 121
- French preadolescents’ perceptions of stylistic variation 141
- Sociolinguistic variation in African French 159
- Register variation in the non-standard use of non-finite forms 177
-
Section III. Lexical variation and semantic change
- Introduction 195
- Discourse markers and regional variation in French 201
- Sociolinguistic factors and the pragmaticalization of bon in contemporary spoken French 215
- From ‘luck’ to ‘wealth’ 231
- Index 253
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
-
Section I. Phonological variation and leveling
- Introduction 3
- Perception and production in French dialect leveling 9
- The sociolinguistic relevance of regional categories 25
- Prosodic style-shifting as audience design 43
- The immigrant factor in phonological leveling 63
- A prototype-theoretic model of Southern French 77
- The law of position revisited 95
-
Section II. Stylistic and syntactic variation
- Introduction 115
- Variation in first and second language French 121
- French preadolescents’ perceptions of stylistic variation 141
- Sociolinguistic variation in African French 159
- Register variation in the non-standard use of non-finite forms 177
-
Section III. Lexical variation and semantic change
- Introduction 195
- Discourse markers and regional variation in French 201
- Sociolinguistic factors and the pragmaticalization of bon in contemporary spoken French 215
- From ‘luck’ to ‘wealth’ 231
- Index 253
