Linguistic stability and divergence
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Karoline Kühl
Abstract
In contrast to the amount of research that has been performed on linguistic convergence in language contact, this paper focuses on the possibility of linguistic systems remaining stable, or even diverging, in language contact settings. It carves out multiple relevant mechanisms and factors that influence linguistic stability and divergence (e.g. degree and type of multilingual competence, sociolinguistic, socio-economic and socio-political factors, cognitive mechanisms, etc.) and gives an account of contact situations where structural divergence and stability can be observed. Based on these examples, we suggest a classification of divergence and stability that builds on the assumption that these developments may take place either due to, or despite, language contact.
Abstract
In contrast to the amount of research that has been performed on linguistic convergence in language contact, this paper focuses on the possibility of linguistic systems remaining stable, or even diverging, in language contact settings. It carves out multiple relevant mechanisms and factors that influence linguistic stability and divergence (e.g. degree and type of multilingual competence, sociolinguistic, socio-economic and socio-political factors, cognitive mechanisms, etc.) and gives an account of contact situations where structural divergence and stability can be observed. Based on these examples, we suggest a classification of divergence and stability that builds on the assumption that these developments may take place either due to, or despite, language contact.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I: Theoretical aspects
- Linguistic stability and divergence 13
- Convergence vs. divergence from a diasystematic perspective 39
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Part II: Empirical studies
- Stability and convergence in case marking 63
- Towards a typological classification of Judeo-Spanish 77
- Despite or because of intensive contact? 109
- Stability in Chinese and Malay heritage languages as a source of divergence 141
- Does convergence generate stability? 163
- Gender and noun inflection 179
- Dialect stability and divergence in southern Spain 207
- The Bergen dialect splits in two 239
- Diachronic convergence and divergence in differential object marking between Spanish and Portuguese 265
- Person index 291
- Subject index 295
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: Theoretical aspects
- Linguistic stability and divergence 13
- Convergence vs. divergence from a diasystematic perspective 39
-
Part II: Empirical studies
- Stability and convergence in case marking 63
- Towards a typological classification of Judeo-Spanish 77
- Despite or because of intensive contact? 109
- Stability in Chinese and Malay heritage languages as a source of divergence 141
- Does convergence generate stability? 163
- Gender and noun inflection 179
- Dialect stability and divergence in southern Spain 207
- The Bergen dialect splits in two 239
- Diachronic convergence and divergence in differential object marking between Spanish and Portuguese 265
- Person index 291
- Subject index 295
