The Politics of Pronunciation among German-Speaking Mennonites in Northern Mexico

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Klassen
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
German Language ◽  
Northern Mexico ◽  
Low German ◽  
Politics Of Language ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Secular Society ◽  
Modern Technologies

This chapter discusses the politics of language use in collective singing among conserving Mennonites in northern Mexico. The group migrated to Mexico from Canada to distance itself from the worldly influences of modern technologies and secular society in general. In the new environment the German language stands as a symbolic marker, distinguishing Mennonites from the wider society. The chapter shows how further in-group linguistic distinctions are marked through uses of High and Low German (drawing on the wider class associations of the two languages), in which a distinct “a” (pronounced “au”) from Low German is often employed in contexts of High German use. The chapter explores what happens when this distinctive pronunciation is used politically in collective song as an expression of defiance by individual singers and the tensions that result when collective song becomes a space for “phonological expressions of difference.”

scholarly journals Wortgeografischer Wandel im Schweizerdeutschen. Sommersprossen, Küchenzwiebel und Schmetterling 70 Jahre nach dem SDS

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Juska-Bacher
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Change ◽  
German Language ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Swiss German ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Language Area ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Small Parts

This paper intends to show the importance of having linguistic instruments, principally semantic ones, for determining the meaning of words with the greatest precision and, consequently, managing to meticulously establish the different meanings of a dictionary's entry words. As an example, a new definition of the Spanish verb mezclar ('to mix') will b Since the beginning of the publication of the linguistic atlas of German-speaking Switzerland (Sprachatlas der deutschen Schweiz, SDS) in the early 1960s individual linguists collected contemporary material for comparison to investigate language change. However, due to time and money restrictions these studies were limited to small parts of the language area only. So far a description of tendencies concerning the entire Swiss German language area is missing. Based on an online-survey of 5600 informants this investigation is the first to present word geographic data covering (almost) the whole German-speaking Switzerland. Comparing GIS-maps of SDS and online data of the dialectal lexemes for freckles, onion and butterfly, language change over the last century becomes apparent, with striking convergence tendencies towards standard German, but also a Swiss German dialect expanding its range. Most of the dialect words mentioned in the SDS were preserved; some new were found. Thus, diversity of lexicon and creative language use are not endangered. Statistical analysis showed that younger speakers are more likely to deviate from the SDS. Less strong, but still significant were the influence of the parent's dialect and the duration of living in the dialect area, whereas gender had no influence.

Swiss themes in three “pluricentric” German language textbooks

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Boss
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
German Language ◽  
Factual Information ◽  
Swiss German ◽  
German Dialects ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Language Textbooks

Researchers agree that German is a pluricentric language and the pedagogical implications of pluricentricity have been spelt out in the D-A-CH-Konzept. This article examines three current textbooks for German as a foreign language with regard to their coverage of Switzerland as a German-speaking nation. After a brief discussion of the Swiss linguistic situation, especially the diglossic relationship between Swiss Standard German and the Swiss-German dialects, the article demonstrates that Themen neu and Stufen international contain more factual information about Switzerland than Moment mal!, but only the latter offers linguistically authentic examples of language use. The article concludes by pointing out that pluricentric German language textbooks for beginners are unfortunately still rare.

scholarly journals PLURIZENTRITITÄT DER DEUTSCHSPRACHIGEN TERMINOLOGIE IM AMTS- UND VERWALTUNGSBEREICH

2018 ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
Olena Kashchy
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Continuous Selection ◽  
German Language ◽  
Public System ◽  
Study Material ◽  
The Social ◽  
Parallel Forms ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Lexical Items ◽  
Selection Of

The article is devoted to the revealing and analysis of the lexical features of the Austrian version of the German language as a pluriscentric language in the field of management and administration. The lexical differences between the German and Austrian versions of the German language are so significant that they can hinder free orientation in the German-speaking space and correct language use. The existing lexical differences are partly caused by the social and public system peculiarities of the country, the specifics of the administrative structure and state broadcasting. The sources of the research are texts of Austrian media publications. Study material is consisted of lexical units obtained by continuous selection of Austrian print media “Standard” and “Österreich Spiegel”. In the course of the study, in the texts of the printed publications were revealed lexical items, which are codified standard norms of the Austrian version of the German language. The analysis of available data allows us to classify several types of parallel forms in the Austrian and German variants of the German language: synonymous forms, denoting the same reality, but using different lexical items; synonymous lexical items to denote the same objects and phenomena, the distinction between which is purely formal; lexical items denoting realities, that are typical for only one country of the German-speaking space, or objects and phenomena whose similarities are limited; and lexical items that do not differ formally and are used in both versions of the pluricentric language, but have different meanings or synonyms only in one of the possible values.

Language-use as a theme in German-language Swiss literature

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-341
Author(s):  
Felicity Rash
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Real Life ◽  
German Language ◽  
Language Community ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
The Social ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Widespread Interest

This article explores the treatment of the theme of language-use in germanophone Swiss fiction.1 I aim to show that the frequency with which this theme manifests itself in literature reflects a widespread interest in linguistic issues on the part of the German-speaking Swiss. The views on language expressed by literary characters discussed in this article are, in fact, no different from those voiced by the real-life Swiss - and most Swiss fiction is about Swiss characters. That the germanophone Swiss give so much attention to linguistic issues testifies to their sensitivity to the social function of language-use as well as to their respect for tradition. The ability to use language according to prescribed conventions is seen as more than merely desirable; it is recognized as a vital requirement of social cohesion and national identity. I conclude that the Swiss preoccupation with language has a political dimension. The unique linguistic situation of German-speaking Switzerland - that of a diglossic German-language community within a multilingual nation - is used by the germanophone Swiss as a means of asserting their individuality among other German-speaking populations.

Development of a German-Language Questionnaire to Measure Collective Orientation as an Individual Attitude

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Hagemann
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
German Language ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Collective Orientation ◽  
Team Research ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
The Individual

Abstract. The individual attitudes of every single team member are important for team performance. Studies show that each team member’s collective orientation – that is, propensity to work in a collective manner in team settings – enhances the team’s interdependent teamwork. In the German-speaking countries, there was previously no instrument to measure collective orientation. So, I developed and validated a German-language instrument to measure collective orientation. In three studies (N = 1028), I tested the validity of the instrument in terms of its internal structure and relationships with other variables. The results confirm the reliability and validity of the instrument. The instrument also predicts team performance in terms of interdependent teamwork. I discuss differences in established individual variables in team research and the role of collective orientation in teams. In future research, the instrument can be applied to diagnose teamwork deficiencies and evaluate interventions for developing team members’ collective orientation.

First grammar books in the Habsburg Monarchy: individual initiative and regulatory interference by the state (1760s–1770s)

2020 ◽  
Vol 2019 (2 (11)) ◽  
pp. 137-157
Author(s):  
Olga V. Khavanova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
State Policy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
German Language ◽  
Habsburg Monarchy ◽  
Private Initiative ◽  
The One

The second half of the eighteenth century in the lands under the sceptre of the House of Austria was a period of development of a language policy addressing the ethno-linguistic diversity of the monarchy’s subjects. On the one hand, the sphere of use of the German language was becoming wider, embracing more and more segments of administration, education, and culture. On the other hand, the authorities were perfectly aware of the fact that communication in the languages and vernaculars of the nationalities living in the Austrian Monarchy was one of the principal instruments of spreading decrees and announcements from the central and local authorities to the less-educated strata of the population. Consequently, a large-scale reform of primary education was launched, aimed at making the whole population literate, regardless of social status, nationality (mother tongue), or confession. In parallel with the centrally coordinated state policy of education and language-use, subjects-both language experts and amateur polyglots-joined the process of writing grammar books, which were intended to ease communication between the different nationalities of the Habsburg lands. This article considers some examples of such editions with primary attention given to the correlation between private initiative and governmental policies, mechanisms of verifying the textbooks to be published, their content, and their potential readers. This paper demonstrates that for grammar-book authors, it was very important to be integrated into the patronage networks at the court and in administrative bodies and stresses that the Vienna court controlled the process of selection and financing of grammar books to be published depending on their quality and ability to satisfy the aims and goals of state policy.

Zum Quellenwert der historischen Presseforschung in multiethnischen Räumen

Transilvania ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Doris Sava
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Aging Process ◽  
German Language ◽  
Southeastern Europe ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Funding Programs ◽  
German Minority ◽  
Central Eastern

The number of projects dedicated to the digitization of newspaper collections in libraries and archives has risen continuously in recent years. The main focus is on securing German-language press inventory outside of the German-speaking area, which often cannot be copied due to the aging process, and – with a view to developments, cross-connections and research approaches – making them available for broad use for future independent investigations. Through various funding programs, the ministries responsible for education and research and national research infrastructures also work to keep this cultural heritage alive, to digitize it on a larger scale, to develop it and to make it internationally accessible. The article therefore shows some of the noteworthy newspapers and magazines of the German minority in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe and some efforts for documentation of the German minority press in this region.

scholarly journals SCIENTIFIC-METHODICAL ASPECTS OF FORMATION OF READINESS FOR GERMAN-LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED COMMUNICATION OF FUTURE AGRICULTURISTS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetyana Pakhomova ◽  
◽  
Olga Piddubtseva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
German Language ◽  
Language Training ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
Joint Activities ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
German Speaking

Active European integration processes in the state, education and business determine relevance of the study. They pay special attention to the discipline «Foreign language for specific purposes» in the training of agricultural specialists. The purpose of this study is to consider the scientific and methodical aspects of formation of readiness for German-language professionally oriented communication among future agriculturists. Theoretical (analysis, systematization, generalization, modeling) and empirical methods were used to achieve this goal. They allowed to analyze the latest scientific research in the field of foreign language training, problems of readiness for foreign language communication, features of foreign language professionally oriented communication of agro-industrial enterprises` specialists. The analysis of the professional requirements for future farmers, scientific approaches to interpretation of the concept «readiness», modern concepts of foreign language teaching methods gave grounds to specify the concept of readiness for German-speaking professionally oriented communication of agriculturists, which is seen as the competence to use acquired knowledge, ability and skills for successful German-speaking professionally oriented communication. Analysis of the national experience of foreign language training of agricultural sector specialists shows that the main purpose of foreign languages studying in higher educational establishments is the training a specialist who can use the German language as a tool of professional activity and professional knowledge. In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to develop the linguistic, social-cultural, educational and professional components of German-speaking professionally oriented communicative competence. Communication is an integral part of the professional activities of specialists. It is based on general social and psychological patterns and focuses on the successful and effective implementation of professional duties, and includes the exchange of proposals, requirements, views, motives to solve specific problems, sign agreements or establish other relations between the subjects of joint activities. German-language professionally oriented communication has its linguistic features, namely: lexical (terms, scientific and technical phraseology, professionalism, jargon, abbreviations and acronyms), grammatical (nominal style, modal verbs, passive voice, sentence length) and stylistic (metaphor, comparison and epithets). According to the fundamental bases of foreign language training the model of formation of readiness for German-language professionally oriented communication among future agriculturists is proposed, based on the peculiarities of teaching foreign languages in agricultural universities and the specificity of professionally oriented communication of specialists in the agricultural sector. It consists of the following blocks: motivational-target, theoretical-methodological, content-technological and productive-estimated. The effectiveness of the model depends on such factors as: the organization of the appropriate language environment, modeling of professional situations in the classroom and increase motivation for professionally oriented communication. The results of the study are to determine the place of formation of readiness for foreign language communication in the professional education of future farmers, to determine the linguistic features of German-language communication of agronomists, to substantiate the organizational and pedagogical conditions of German-language training and create an appropriate model. The formation of readiness for professionally oriented communication in a foreign language is a systematic, long-term process that involves the development of traditional professional ideas, professional thinking and professional behavior.

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