A contrastive study of language attitudes and identity construction in the North-East of Scotland and Bavaria
The North-East of Scotland and Altbayern (Old Bavaria) have long been perceived as the heartland of the respective linguistic varieties. Due to their association with a largely rural lifestyle the associated regional vernaculars, the Doric and Old Bavarian, are often regarded as the âpurestâ forms of the local variety. Considering that these regions are regarded as prominent, this study investigates what the speakers think of their varieties and how they construct their identity in the light of these perceptions. Using mainly qualitative data, gathered in the small towns of Peterhead and Aichach, the study explores the attitudes towards the varieties and its speakers as perceived by themselves. Issues, such as age-related competence, positive and negative discrimination, are one aspect of the investigation. Another focal point are the strategies employed by the participants to construct their identity as vernacular speakers. Drawing on methods connected to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), themes, such as character traits and the relationships in the community between locals and incomers, are studied. The status of the standard variety and the vernacular and the relationship between them is investigated;
Loester, Barbara
Linguistics ; English language ; German language ; Language and culture
A contrastive study of language attitudes and identity construction in the North-East of Scotland and Bavaria. The North-East of Scotland and Altbayern (Old Bavaria) have long been perceived as the heartland of the respective linguistic varieties. Due to their association with a largely rural lifestyle the associated regional vernaculars, the Doric and Old Bavarian, are often regarded as the âpurestâ forms of the local variety. Considering that these regions are regarded as prominent, this study investigates what the speakers think of their varieties and how they construct their identity in the light of these perceptions. Using mainly qualitative data, gathered in the small towns of Peterhead and Aichach, the study explores the attitudes towards the varieties and its speakers as perceived by themselves. Issues, such as age-related competence, positive and negative discrimination, are one aspect of the investigation. Another focal point are the strategies employed by the participants to construct their identity as vernacular speakers. Drawing on methods connected to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), themes, such as character traits and the relationships in the community between locals and incomers, are studied. The status of the standard variety and the vernacular and the relationship between them is investigated;
contrastive_study language_attitude identity_construction north_east_scotland north_east_scotland old long perceived heartland respective linguistic variety due association largely rural lifestyle associate regional vernacular old often regarded pure form local variety considering region regard prominent study_investigate speaker think variety construct_identity light perception using mainly qualitative_data gather small_town study_explores attitude_towards variety speaker perceive themselves issues age_related competence positive_negative discrimination one_aspect investigation another focal_point strategy_employ participant construct_identity vernacular speaker drawing method connect critical_discourse_analysis cda theme character trait relationships community local study status standard_variety vernacular relationship investigate