Auer (2005) defines a typology of standard/dialect constellations for Europe to explain changing language repertoires and calls for empirical research to analyse the transitions and establish the boundaries between varieties. To answer this call, this research looks at the Swabian dialect in southwestern Germany, which is changing from a diglossic (i.e., high-low varieties) to diaglossic (a continuum of intermediate varieties) situation, offering the opportunity to analyse the linguistic changes involved in the transition.
Following the variationist sociolinguistic paradigm, this paper presents the results of a 35-year panel study of 15 Swabian speakers who were interviewed in 1982 and 2017. Five phonological and five morphosyntactic variables were selected to assess dialect density with respect to various social factors. The findings show that, while some dialect features have converged toward the standard, others remain, confirming Britain's (2009:121) claim that dialect attrition 'does not necessarily lead to an overall shift to the standard language' and Auer's (2005) assertion that diaglossic repertoires, while susceptible to leveling, tend to be resistant to change.
To explain these findings, indices of identity and mobility (Cheshire et al. 2008; Sharma 2011) were developed and the results show how certain features act as markers in establishing a positive Swabian identity, while others are stigmatised and hence avoided. This study offers new understandings in dialect attrition and provides indicators on the nature and direction of language change.
References:
Auer, P., 2005. Europe’s sociolinguistic unity, or: A typology of European dialect/standard constellations. In N. Delbecque, J. van der Auwera, & D. Geeraerts, eds. Perspectives on Variation: Sociolinguistic, Historical, Comparative. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, pp. 7–42.
Britain, D., 2009. One foot in the grave? Dialect death, dialect contact, and dialect birth in England. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, (196–197), pp.121–155.
Cheshire, J. et al., 2008. Ethnicity, friendship network and social practices as the motor of dialect change: Linguistic innovation in London. Sociolinguistica, pp.1–23.
Sharma, D., 2011. Style Repertoire and Social Change in British Asian English . Journal of Sociolinguistics, 15(4), pp.464–492.
