Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective

The case of Germanic languages
  • Vít Dovalil
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
A Language Management Approach to Language Problems
This chapter is in the book A Language Management Approach to Language Problems

Abstract

The fact that the processes of language standardization can be interpreted in terms of language management has been well known for decades. However, this kind of language change should not be taken for a one-way process, because there is clear evidence of opposite processes in which the degree of standardization decreases. Some of these processes are called destandardization, others demotization (Auer & Spiekermann, 2011; Kristiansen & Coupland, 2011; Mattheier, 1997). This paper seeks to explore the differences between these concepts and to operationalize them for empirical research. To achieve these goals, it refers to different kinds of expectations, the phases of the language management process and micro-macro-perspectives, which are a part of language management theory (Nekvapil & Sherman, 2015; Fairbrother, Nekvapil & Sloboda, 2018).

Abstract

The fact that the processes of language standardization can be interpreted in terms of language management has been well known for decades. However, this kind of language change should not be taken for a one-way process, because there is clear evidence of opposite processes in which the degree of standardization decreases. Some of these processes are called destandardization, others demotization (Auer & Spiekermann, 2011; Kristiansen & Coupland, 2011; Mattheier, 1997). This paper seeks to explore the differences between these concepts and to operationalize them for empirical research. To achieve these goals, it refers to different kinds of expectations, the phases of the language management process and micro-macro-perspectives, which are a part of language management theory (Nekvapil & Sherman, 2015; Fairbrother, Nekvapil & Sloboda, 2018).

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical perspectives of the management of language problems
  6. Chapter 2. The origin and development of a language management framework 31
  7. Chapter 3. Research perspectives from East Asia 49
  8. Chapter 4. Researching language management in Central Europe 69
  9. Part II. Managing language problems in contact situations
  10. Chapter 5. Intercultural interaction management 91
  11. Chapter 6. Language selection in contact situations 107
  12. Chapter 7. Diverging and intersecting management 133
  13. Part III. Managing language problems relating to standard varieties
  14. Chapter 8. Processes of language codification 159
  15. Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective 177
  16. Chapter 10. Processes of language enquiries 197
  17. Part IV. The researcher as part of the language management process
  18. Chapter 11. Language management in life story interviews 217
  19. Chapter 12. The bridging role of the researcher between different levels of language management 237
  20. Chapter 13. Epilogue 255
  21. Contributors 269
  22. Index 271
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.7.09dov

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical perspectives of the management of language problems
  6. Chapter 2. The origin and development of a language management framework 31
  7. Chapter 3. Research perspectives from East Asia 49
  8. Chapter 4. Researching language management in Central Europe 69
  9. Part II. Managing language problems in contact situations
  10. Chapter 5. Intercultural interaction management 91
  11. Chapter 6. Language selection in contact situations 107
  12. Chapter 7. Diverging and intersecting management 133
  13. Part III. Managing language problems relating to standard varieties
  14. Chapter 8. Processes of language codification 159
  15. Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective 177
  16. Chapter 10. Processes of language enquiries 197
  17. Part IV. The researcher as part of the language management process
  18. Chapter 11. Language management in life story interviews 217
  19. Chapter 12. The bridging role of the researcher between different levels of language management 237
  20. Chapter 13. Epilogue 255
  21. Contributors 269
  22. Index 271
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 22.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/wlp.7.09dov/html
Scroll to top button