Sociolinguistic variation in the Paris suburbs
This thesis investigates linguistic variation, diffusion and change in two suburban towns of Paris (La Courneuve and Fontenay-sous-Bois), using quantitative methods to analyse innovative accent forms presently developing. After an introductory chapter which sets out the origins and objectives of the study, Chapter 2 gives the background to the Paris banlieues as well as a description of the research sites. Banlieues are ideal places of investigation for the linguist interested in sociolectal variation in that they accommodate a population which is relatively isolated from the linguistic norm of the dominant society. As a result of this isolation, a recognisable localised vernacular has emerged. This is in itself unsurprising, as similar phenomena have been observed elsewhere in low-contact contexts. What is particularly interesting here is that this vernacular has emerged in an urban context, generally characteristised by a relatively high degree of sociolectal contact, especially with prestigious varieties. Chapter 3 aims at showing how previous research has tackled the study of sociolinguistic variation in urban contexts. We then discuss the sociolinguistic literature more specifically focused on banlieues.
Jamin, Mikael Jan
Sociolinguistic variation in the Paris suburbs. This thesis investigates linguistic variation, diffusion and change in two suburban towns of Paris (La Courneuve and Fontenay-sous-Bois), using quantitative methods to analyse innovative accent forms presently developing. After an introductory chapter which sets out the origins and objectives of the study, Chapter 2 gives the background to the Paris banlieues as well as a description of the research sites. Banlieues are ideal places of investigation for the linguist interested in sociolectal variation in that they accommodate a population which is relatively isolated from the linguistic norm of the dominant society. As a result of this isolation, a recognisable localised vernacular has emerged. This is in itself unsurprising, as similar phenomena have been observed elsewhere in low-contact contexts. What is particularly interesting here is that this vernacular has emerged in an urban context, generally characteristised by a relatively high degree of sociolectal contact, especially with prestigious varieties. Chapter 3 aims at showing how previous research has tackled the study of sociolinguistic variation in urban contexts. We then discuss the sociolinguistic literature more specifically focused on banlieues.
sociolinguistic_variation paris suburb investigates linguistic_variation diffusion change suburban town paris use_quantitative method analyse innovative accent form presently develop introductory_set origins objective_study give background paris well description site ideal place investigation linguist interested variation accommodate population relatively isolated linguistic_norm dominant society isolation recognisable localise vernacular emerge unsurprising similar phenomenon observe elsewhere low contact context particularly_interesting vernacular emerge urban_context generally relatively high_degree contact especially prestigious variety aim_show previous tackle study sociolinguistic_variation urban_context discuss sociolinguistic literature specifically_focus