Across Europe new types of linguistic varieties have emerged, mainly spoken by adolescents with foreign roots. The development of these varieties have been analysed and observed in recent decades, such as Rinkebysvenska in Sweden or Straattaal in the Netherlands. All these varieties display common characteristics, e.g. spoken by young people with different migratory backgrounds and a linguistic system developed by the contact language. (Paul, Freywald, Wittenberg 2009, 1-2)
A new emerging phenomenon, with similar proprieties of the other varieties in Europe is Kiezdeutsch – a multiethnolect variety spoken in urban cities across German speaking countries. (Wiese 2012, 110 – 114) In recent years in Germany there has existed a great debate about the status of Kiezdeutsch. Three different positions came out; if Kiezdeutsch could be defined, as a “dialect“ strongly affirmed by Wiese (2012), or as a “style of speaking” affirmed by Helmut Glück, professor of German at the University of Bamberg, or as an “incomplete language acquisition” defined by the public opinion.
In this essay I will focus on the sociolinguistic factors that played an important role for the birth of Kiezdeutsch, and describe this variety as a language of the youth, and on the linguistic system that combines features of contact language. I will research what makes Kiezdeutsch a dialect with a dynamic linguistic system, and how it is undervalued by the public opinion, which considers Kiezdeutsch not as a dialect, but rather a “broken German” or “an incomplete language acquisition”, acquired by immigrants.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sociolinguistic factors in Kiezdeutsch
3. Morpho-syntactic changes
3.a. The omission of articles, pronouns and other words
3.b. Word order in Kiezdeutsch
3.c. Morpho-syntactic reduction: new particles
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to analyze the status of Kiezdeutsch as a linguistic variety, moving beyond the public misconception that it is merely "broken German." The research investigates how this youth language functions as a systematic, dynamic linguistic system shaped by multilingual contact, social identity, and specific grammatical innovations.
- Sociolinguistic drivers behind the emergence of Kiezdeutsch.
- Distinction between Kiezdeutsch as a dialect/youth language and perceived "incomplete language acquisition."
- Morpho-syntactic innovations including article/preposition omission and sentence structure.
- The role of new particles (such as "lassma" and "musstu") in creating a unique information structure.
Excerpt from the Book
Morpho-syntactic reduction: new particles
The omission of the constituent and the different word order are not the only grammatical innovations in Kiezdeutsch, but the creation of several new words from a morpho-syntactic reduction are widespread used in this variety. Here are several examples:
(9) lassma gehen! (KD)
“Lass uns mal gehen!” (DT)
“Let us go!” (EN)
(10) Musstu Doppelstunde fahren! (KD)
“Du musst Doppelstunde fahren!” (DT)
“You have to do a double lesson” (EN)
Examples (9) and (10) show the use of new shortened or combined words with the constitution of a new grammatical subsystem. These two words lassma and musstu have two different functions: Lassma forwards a suggestion to the hearer that includes the speaker (speaker-inclusive) and Musstu forwards a suggestion that includes the listener (speaker-exclusive).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents Kiezdeutsch as a multiethnolect and frames the debate regarding its status as a dialect, a style of speaking, or incomplete language acquisition.
2. Sociolinguistic factors in Kiezdeutsch: Explores the origins of the variety in multi-ethnic urban neighborhoods and its function as a marker of social identity for adolescents.
3. Morpho-syntactic changes: Details the specific grammatical features of Kiezdeutsch, including structural simplifications and the formation of a distinct particle system.
3.a. The omission of articles, pronouns and other words: Analyzes the systematic tendency to drop functional words, highlighting the difference between stylistic economy and incomplete learning.
3.b. Word order in Kiezdeutsch: Examines the dynamic use of the left periphery, specifically the AdvSVO and V1 patterns that deviate from standard German.
3.c. Morpho-syntactic reduction: new particles: Discusses the emergence of uninflected particles like "lassma," "musstu," and "ischwör" as a new communicative strategy.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes that Kiezdeutsch is a legitimate, rule-governed linguistic variety that serves as a vital peer-group code rather than a deficit form of German.
Keywords
Kiezdeutsch, multiethnolect, sociolinguistics, morpho-syntax, youth language, contact language, linguistic variety, grammatical innovation, sentence structure, discourse markers, language acquisition, social identity, verbal particles, urban dialect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines Kiezdeutsch, an emerging multiethnolect spoken primarily by adolescents in urban areas, arguing that it is a systematic linguistic variety rather than "broken German."
What are the central thematic fields?
The study centers on sociolinguistic factors, such as social identity and peer-group dynamics, and linguistic analysis, specifically morpho-syntactic innovations and information structure.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to describe how Kiezdeutsch functions as a dynamic system with its own grammatical rules and to challenge the negative perception held by the public and mass media.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author uses a qualitative approach, synthesizing existing linguistic literature, analyzing grammatical examples from the variety, and comparing them to standard German structures.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the sociolinguistic context of the language's emergence, specific syntactic deviations like AdvSVO order, and the creation of new particles via morpho-syntactic reduction.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Kiezdeutsch, multiethnolect, sociolinguistics, morpho-syntax, youth language, contact language, and grammatical innovation.
How does Kiezdeutsch differ from standard German regarding word order?
Kiezdeutsch allows for a more dynamic "pre-field" organization, permitting AdvSVO (adverb-subject-verb-object) and V1 (verb-first) declarative patterns that are generally restricted in standard German.
What is the function of particles like "lassma" and "musstu"?
These are uninflected, fixed expressions that have evolved from grammatical reduction to function as specific directive markers within the language, facilitating unique communicative strategies.
- Quote paper
- Tomasello Rosario (Author), 2013, Kiezdeutsch - A new emerging variety of the standard German, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/211881
