Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Editor and Book Reviews Editor: John Edwards (St Francis Xavier University, Canada)
|
Volume: 23 Number: 1 Page: 98–111
|
|
|
|
|
Alsace
|
|
Helga Bister-Broosen
|
|
After an overview of recent research on various aspects of the Alsatian language in a contact situation and a discussion of the function of the language and state border, there follows a historical overview
of the genesis and development of that situation. The consequences of changes which have disturbed the linguistic unity of the Upper Rhine region are discussed in the third section. It also contains the
most recent information as to who speaks what language to whom and when. In the following section contacts across the state border are analysed and the function of various linguistic codes on both sides
of the state border are described. The sole real post-war innovation in Alsace is the introduction of bilingual instruction. This very laudable new policy – presented in the final section –
will considerably enhance the bilingual competence of young Alsatians. Yet, this will probably not fundamentally change the linguistic habits of the Alsatians. Alsatian dialects do not enjoy any official
support, have no official functions, and are hardly used by the younger generations any more. As far as daily language practice is concerned the language border and the state border are doomed to coincide
within the lapse of only a few generations.
© Multilingual Matters 2002
Full text PDF
|
