Ferguson’s initial definition of diglossia describes the use of ‘two language varieties [that] exist side by side throughout the community, each having a definite role to play’ (1959, repr. 1972: 232). The relationship between the Swiss dialects (which will be referred to from hereon as SG) and Swiss Standard German (HG) has been characterized as ‘medial diglossia’, based on the HG for writing and SG for speaking dichotomy (see EDI 1989b: 101). As Rash comments, ‘the term “functional diglossia” is perhaps preferable, as it fits the situation whereby SG and HG are each allocated certain functions (1998: 50). Traditionally, the functions (or domains) of HG have been that of a Schriftsprache, acquired through the education system but also produced orally on formal occasions, in communication with non-SG speakers and in the media. SG has no ‘soziolektale Wertung’ (Linke, Nussbaumer & Portmann 2004: 347) and is therefore employed as an informal spoken variety by all members of the speech community. However, as Ammon states, ‘freilich bleibt Fergusons Diglossie-Begriff […] zu abstrakt, um alle Besonderheiten des Verhältnisses von Dialekten und Standardvarietät in der deutschsprachigen Schweiz […] zu erfassen’ (Ammon 285) and the increased use of SG has led to claims that ‘die Mundarten dringen heute in immer mehr Bereiche vor, die früher in erster Linie der Hochsprache vorbehalten waren, und zwar sowohl in schriftlichen wie im mündlichen Ausdruck’ (EDI 1989a: VII). In light of this, Ris suggests that ‘das gesprochene Hochdeutsch in der Schweiz im internen Gebrauch [fungiert] nicht mehr als komplementäre Sprachform im Sinne des Diglossiemodells […], sondern als Zweitsprache im Sinne des Bilingualismus-Modells, die man in gewissen Kommunikationssituationen mehr noch verwenden darf als verwenden muss’ (1990: 43). The following study has, for the most part, been based on empirical research undertaken between April and August 2004. Its aim is to investigate the extent to which we can ascertain SG is replacing HG in German-speaking Switzerland through an examination of its usage in relation to HG in the education system, written and oral communication and the media. Having done this, I shall look at attitudes towards the changes in SG use, linguistic competency and use of SG in the education system and media, in order to then conclude whether diglossia is still applicable here.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The empirical study: issues of data collection
- The indirect method
- The postal questionnaire
- The respondents
- Grouping the data collected
- The use of dialect in relation to the standard
- Dialect and standard in education
- Primary and Secondary education
- University education
- Summary
- Dialect and Standard in oral communication
- Informal oral communication
- Formal oral communication
- Oral communication with non-SG speakers
- Summary
- Dialect and Standard in written communication
- Formal written communication
- Informal written communication
- Summary
- Dialect and Standard in the media
- The written media
- The audiovisual media
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Dialect and standard in education
- Attitudes towards dialect and standard
- Attitudes towards change in SG use
- Analysis of the results
- Summary
- Competency in SG and HG
- Vocabulary
- Code-alternation
- Expression in SG and HG
- Summary
- Attitudes towards SG and HG in education
- Analysis of the results
- Summary
- Attitudes towards the use of SG and HG on television
- Analysis of the results
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Attitudes towards change in SG use
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study investigates the relationship between the use of Swiss German and attitudes towards this dialect in Switzerland, exploring whether dialect is replacing the standard language in a diglossic context. The research examines the use of dialect in various domains of communication, including education, oral and written communication, and the media.
- The role of Swiss German in different social settings
- The relationship between dialect and standard language in Switzerland
- Attitudes towards Swiss German and its use in various contexts
- The influence of education and media on language use
- The impact of globalization and migration on language dynamics in Switzerland
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The study begins by introducing the research questions and outlining the methodology used for data collection. This includes a detailed explanation of the indirect method employed through a postal questionnaire.
Chapter 3 delves into the use of Swiss German in relation to the standard language across different domains, including education, oral communication, written communication, and the media. The chapter explores the frequency of Swiss German use in each domain, examining the influence of factors such as social context, age, and educational background.
Chapter 4 focuses on attitudes towards dialect and standard language, analyzing respondents’ views on changes in the use of Swiss German, their perceived competency in both languages, and their opinions on the use of dialect in various situations, particularly in education and television. The chapter also examines the relationship between language attitudes and factors such as age, gender, and exposure to different cultural influences.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The study revolves around the central themes of dialect and standard language, diglossia, language attitudes, and linguistic variation. It investigates the use of Swiss German in Switzerland, exploring the factors that influence its use and the attitudes towards it. Key concepts such as code-alternation, language shift, and the impact of globalization are also discussed in relation to the research findings.
- Citation du texte
- Jonathan Morris (Auteur), 2005, To what extent does the use of Swiss German and attitudes towards this variety suggest that dialect is replacing standard in diglossic Switzerland, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/82942
