Wherever there are two or more languages present in some form at a time, be it within an individual or an area, there is language contact that can be analyzed. Out of the vast possibilities of types of contact, this paper focusses on the contact of German and English within a single Individual. The means by which this contact and it’s outcome are analyzed were chosen specifically according to this type of contact. Here, the model and methods of analysis by the Dutch scholar Frans van Coetsem offer the greatest potential for an insightful analysis. The first of the several reasons why I chose to analyze the present data with the model by Van Coetsem is his otherwise rare focus on the individual speaker in the analysis of language contact. Secondly, he also specifically concentrates on the bilingual speaker, unlike other researchers who have chosen a trilingual focus. Moreover, unlike the MLF model by Myers- Scotton [2006] the model applies to the unbalanced bilingual speaker. Finally, the model has the advantage of being very clearly structured and versatilely applicable, offering explanations for a multitude of phenomena.
Table of Contents
1. Intoduction
1.1. Legend
2. The Theory of the Transmission Process in Language Contact by Frans van Coetsem
2.1. Summary
2.2. A Closer Look at SL Agentivity
2.3. A Closer Look at RL Agentivity
2.4. Conclusion
3. The Case Study
3.1. Introduction
3.2. The Informant: Personal Information and Background
3.3. Difficulties with the Transcription and Analysis
3.4. Legend: Formal Notes on the Transcript
3.5. Analysis
3.5.1. Introduction
3.5.2. Phonology
3.5.3. Morphology
3.5.4. Syntax
3.5.5. Lexicon
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
6. Data Corpus
6.1. Conversation (SJ)
6.2. Letters (SL)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main topic of the paper "Das built natürlich den Vokabel"?
The paper analyzes language contact between German and English within a single bilingual individual, using Frans van Coetsem's theoretical model.
Why was Frans van Coetsem's model chosen for this analysis?
It was chosen because of its rare focus on the individual speaker and its applicability to unbalanced bilingual speakers, unlike other models that focus on groups or balanced bilinguals.
What are SL and RL Agentivity in Van Coetsem's theory?
SL (Source Language) agentivity refers to the influence of a speaker's dominant language on a secondary language, while RL (Recipient Language) agentivity refers to borrowing from a source into a recipient language.
What linguistic levels are analyzed in the case study?
The study analyzes phonology, morphology, syntax, and the lexicon of the informant's speech and writing.
What kind of data was used for the case study?
The data corpus includes both recorded conversations and written letters from the bilingual informant.
- Quote paper
- Frank Schmidt (Author), 2006, “Das built natürlich den Vokabel.“, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/203472
