Multiethnolect

In the present paper, we combine qualitative and quantitative analyses in an investigation of linguistic coherence. We propose a view of coherence as an interpretation of empirical observations rather than something that would be “out there in the data”, and argue that this interpretation should be based on evidence of systematic links between linguistic phenomena, as established by patterns of covariation between phenomena that can be shown to be related at linguistic levels.
Against this background, we identify as a particularly interesting domain for investigations into coherence the new urban dialects that have emerged in multiethnic and multilingual Europe over the last decades. These dialects emerge in highly diverse contexts characterised by a large range of contact situations, diverse repertoires, and the fast pace of language variation and change this brings with it, thus providing an interesting challenge for assumptions of coherence.
For our case study, we choose a set of phenomena that have been described for Kiezdeutsch, a new dialect from multilingual urban Germany. Qualitative analyses point to linguistic relationships between different phenomena and between pragmatic and linguistic levels. Quantitative analyses, based on corpus data from KiDKo, point to systematic differences between the main corpus KiDKo/Mu, with data from a multiethnic and multilingual context, and the complementary corpus KiDKo/Mo, with data from a mostly monoethnic and monolingual (German) context, showing advantages for the Kiezdeutsch data provided by KiDKo/Mu.
Taken together, this indicates patterns of covariation that support an interpretation of coherence for this new dialect: our findings point to an interconnected linguistic system, rather than to a mere accumulation of individual features. We show that accounting for Kiezdeutsch as a systematic variety along these lines does not entail separating it from other variants of German. Rather, its characteristics are embedded in the general range of options in contemporary German, pointing not only to internal coherence, but also to something we could call external coherence, that is, an integration with other variants of German.

Recent work on London English has found innovation in inner city areas, most likely as the outcome of dialect contact. These innovations are shared by speakers of different ethnic backgrounds, and have been identified as features of Multicultural London English (MLE). This study examines whether syllable-timing is a feature of MLE, as work on rhythm shows that dialect and language contact may lead to varieties of English becoming more syllable-timed. Narratives as told by teenagers of different ethnic backgrounds and elderly speakers were segmented by forced phonemic alignment and measurements of vocalic normalized Pairwise Variability Index (nPVI), as an indicator of rhythmic patterns, were calculated. The results revealed that young speakers of non-Anglo background were significantly more syllable-timed than young Anglo speakers and the inner-London speakers were more syllable timed than the outer London speakers. Additionally, there was a correlation between articulation rate and nPVI for the non-Anglo speakers: speakers with a high vocalic articulation rate were more syllable-timed. Changes in the duration of particular diphthongs and schwa may have influenced the overall speech rhythm. The relatively low nPVI for all speaker groups may also indicate London's status as a center of linguistic innovation due to long-standing migration.

Taking a comparative perspective on European and African settings, this chapter describes several contact dialects that emerged in multilingual and multiethnic urban contexts among young people. These dialects emerge as peer-group markers of a new generation of locally born speakers who grow up in multiethnic urban communities based on (internal or external) immigration. In different societal contexts, they take on different forms of contact-linguistic codes: the societal multilingualism typical for many African countries supports the formation of Multilingual Mixed Languages, whereas the monolingual bias in European societies favours new variants of the respective majority languages, which involve contact-induced as well as contact-facilitated language change. In both cases, standard language ideologies can lead to negative views of urban contact dialects in the larger society; in European nation states, the devaluation of these dialects can also serve as a proxy for the devaluation of their speakers, who are constructed as social and ethnic 'Others'.

Youth languages in urban multicultural settings that are often labelled
“multiethnolects” have received growing attention in the last two
decades. In public debate, they are sometimes described as a step
towards imminent “creolisation.” Judgements about Creoles and
multiethnolects that form part of public debates show considerable
similarities on many levels: Laypersons’ metalinguistic commentary
reveals that these two types of languages are held in low esteem in
public opinion. They are sometimes seen as the results of linguistic
decay with “impoverished” grammars that are allegedly a hindrance
for mental and moral development of the speakers and also a sign for
the lack thereof. In addition, research on these languages has been
dismissed as a “waste of resources” given that it does not contribute
to a desired refinement of language. An analysis of 1,240 comments
about multiethnolects and Creoles in online discussions shows that
contact phenomena trigger demands for purity and conservation that
reproduce commonplace arguments from standard language ideology.
The aim of this paper is to shed light on shared discourse patterns in
Creole societies (Jamaica, Trinidad, Réunion, Mauritius) on the one
hand, and European societies (Germany, Norway, the Netherlands)
on the other. Such a comparative perspective reveals how standard
language ideologies can be adapted in different contexts as means of
delegitimising entire speech communities.

Previous research has shown that in densely populated multicultural areas of London, a new dialect has emerged amongst young speakers referred to as Multicultural London English (MLE), the result of language contact between different ethnicities. This study investigates the differences in vowel quality between younger and older speakers in the London Borough of Newham, the most multiethnic borough of London, to see if MLE is gaining territory over the traditional Cockney accent that has existed there for a long period of time. Participants were recorded using a monitored and a spontaneous speech style. Results showed significant differences between the older Cockney speakers and the younger speakers. One speaker showed several traits of MLE while the other displayed a more Cockney accent. It suggests that despite the growth of MLE in Newham, Cockney still has a significant influence on the speech style of the younger community.

My presentation will highlight and criticize the paradigms of majority/dialect and minority/multiethnolect with a focus on young Norwegian speakers (with both Norwegian and immigrant backgrounds) who grew up in multiethnic areas in Oslo. I will use examples from my thesis in order to demonstrate that the respondents have constructed their " place identity "  in relation to their neighborhood (in my study case, Holmlia in Søndre Nordstrand). Some of them have even labeled their language practices as holmliansk (" the language of Holmlia ") along the same lines of dialects' labelisation. I argue then that speakers from multiethnic areas in Oslo have converted the majority attachment for regional level/dialect into a very local level of " place-identity " and a high proximity to language diversity. Should the Holmlia example make us reconsider the labeling of the so-called concept " multiethnolect " ?

In the variety of Dutch spoken by young Moroccans growing up in the Netherlands and Flanders, yes/no interrogatives are found that combine Dutch content with Moroccan Arabic and Tarifiyt Berber interrogative marking. One regularly finds constructions where Arabic and Berber elements are combined. Moreover, the use of the Moroccan Arabic pre-clausal marker waš has been extended beyond its original usage.

RÉSUMÉ DE NOTRE THÈSE DE DOCTORAT :

Dans son article « Sociolinguistic studies in Norway 1970-1991: a critical overview », Trudgill (1995 :7) range volontiers les Norvégiens parmi les « meilleurs sociolinguistes du monde » qui font preuve d’« une conscience à propos des relations entre langue et société soulevées par la récente histoire de la langue norvégienne  ». S’il est ici question du nynorsk (néo-norvégien), seconde langue écrite nationale instaurée au XIXème siècle dans le but de doter les Norvégiens d’un standard écrit délivré de l’empreinte danoise, qu’en est-il à l’heure où la Norvège, à l’instar de ses voisins européens, connaît une diversification importante de sa population en milieu urbain ?

D’ordinaire saluée pour sa tolérance à la variation tant à l’écrit (bokmål et nynorsk) qu’à l’oral (éventail de dialectes), la langue norvégienne est depuis une trentaine d’années influencée par des langues de l’immigration récente telles que l’arabe, le berbère, le punjabi ou encore l’ourdou. Avec le recul, cette situation n’est pas surprenante et reflète la nouvelle donne d’un monde contemporain globalisé, marqué par la multiplication des échanges culturel et surtout linguistiques.

En tant que chercheur français norvégianophone, nous avons situé notre recherche autour de cet apport « non-européen » que nous qualifions plus largement d’« hétérogène ». Il manifeste par la présence régulière mais pas systématique d’unités lexicales « innovantes » parmi lesquelles figure l’expression wallah (en norvégien wolla), devenue l’emblème de pratiques langagières localisées dans des centres urbains préalablement stratifiés puis diverses.

Grâce au projet UPUS mené entre 2006 et 2008 (Utviklingsprosesser i urbane språkmiljø – Processus de développement linguistique en milieu urbain), notre analyse se base sur les données d’une quarantaine d’adolescents ayant tous le norvégien comme langue dominante/première (indépendamment de leurs liens à l’immigration) et habitant les quartiers multiculturels à Oslo. En analysant leurs productions orales en situations formelles et informelles, notre recherche a démontré que le recours aux unités étrangères s’effectue en fonction d’une palette de paramètres internes et externes à l’énonciation dont les locuteurs ont plus ou moins conscience.
En interaction, les routines langagières, la proximité des co-énonciateurs ainsi que le partage de codes socioculturels encouragent la mise en scène du discours par le biais d’unités innovantes. Hors groupe, la façon dont le locuteur définit son identité personnelle et collective notamment à travers son identification à son lieu de résidence, sa prise de positionnement sur la scène sociale nationale, sa tolérance au multilinguisme ou encore ses préférences musicales (hip hop) apparaissent déterminants pour motiver ses choix langagiers.

Dix ans après la tenue du projet UPUS, les pratiques stylistiques « hétérogènes » sont encore présentes dans le répertoire de certains de nos informateurs, ce qui indique que le facteur de l’âge n’est pas décisif. À l’aube du XXIème siècle, le développement vernaculaire du norvégien contemporain contribue donc à étendre notre compréhension de la situation linguistique du pays au-delà d’une vision normative, tout en nous invitant à explorer les ponts sociolinguistiques qui existent entre les différentes terrains urbains européens.

Communication dans le cadre du séminaire des doctorants du laboratoire REIGENN (Représentations et identités. Espace germanique, néerlandophone et nordique) (EA 35565) de l’Université Paris Sorbonne sur le thème « Tensions entre localisme et globalisation dans la reconstruction identitaire. »

Communication à COLDOC (COLDOC est un colloque annuel organisé par les doctorants et jeunes chercheurs en Sciences du langage du laboratoire MoDyCo (UMR 7114 – CNRS/Université Paris Ouest Nanterre/Université Paris Descartes). Sur le thème de : Diversité des langues – Les universaux linguistiques à l’épreuve des faits de langue »

Intervention dans le cadre de la Première Université doctorale d’hiver franco-suédoise autour du Boréalisme, organisée par l’Université de Linköping, l’Académie royale des sciences suédoise, l’Université de Stockholm, le Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle et l’Université Paris IV Paris-Sorbonne à Abisko (Laponie suédoise)