Oachkatzlschwoaf: a Study of Language Choice in Ried Im Innkreis, Austria
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Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria David Kleinberg A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. Chapel Hill 2006 Approved by Advisor: Paul Roberge Reader: Helga Bister-Broosen Reader: Laura Janda Reader: Sidney R. Smith Reader: Roland Willemyns © 2006 David Kleinberg ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT David Kleinberg: Oachkatzlschwoaf: A Study of Language Choice in Ried im Innkreis, Austria (Under the direction of Paul Roberge) A statistical analysis of data collected via self-reporting questionnaires and participant observation in Ried im Innkreis, Austria, shows that the speakers in this community typically prefer to speak their local dialect rather than Standard German or colloquial varieties, at a significantly higher frequency in more domains than speakers in other communities of similar size in Austria. Data from Ried im Innkreis are compared with results from Steinegger (1998) and Wiesinger (1989b), in which similar surveys were distributed throughout Austria. Factors that typically correlate with the choice of dialect over colloquial or standard varieties of German in large cities in Austria, such as socioeconomic class, do not play a significant role in Ried im Innkreis due to the small size of the community. The same trends apparent in the rest of the Austria with regard to gender are apparent in Ried. Males report that they speak dialect slightly more often than females, and a decrease in dialect use by females is indicated which corresponds to typical child-raising years and retirement. The trends for age and dialect frequency are generally consistent with previous findings for Austria. School-aged speakers report that they use dialect more often than adults. Adult commuters speak dialect more often than non-commuters in intimate situations with family and friends. School-aged commuters report that they speak less dialect than non-commuters in school and when speaking with strangers. Social network strength is a significant factor, and correlates positively with frequency of dialect use, but only in situations where speaker is iii in their own social network. Speakers’ attitudes regarding dialect and Standard German, speakers of dialect, and their own choice of speech variety can provide psychological explanations for their choice of variety in a given domain. Positive attitudes regarding the dialect itself, speakers of the local dialect and local loyalty are positively correlated with frequency of dialect use. Predictions for the future vitality of the local dialect are also made, based on current and historical demographic trends and the respondents’ attitudes regarding dialect and standard varieties of German. iv For my family and the community of Ried im Innkreis v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of many people, both individuals and groups. I am grateful to the people of Ried im Innkreis and surrounding communities who participated in the study and offered me insight into their dialect. Without the financial support of the Österreichischer Austauschdienst this project would have never gotten off the ground. Professor Hermann Scheuringer offered enthusiastic sponsorship and guidance, as well as access to the resources of the Adalbart-Stifter-Institut in Linz, which proved invaluable. The Landesschulrat for Upper Austria granted me permission to pursue my research within the public schools of Ried, which allowed the research to proceed smoothly. In Ried, many individuals went out of their way to assist me in many different ways. Johann Aschenberger, principal of the HBLA, offered me access to his faculty, staff and students, and helped to bridge connections to the other schools. Peter Radlegger, principal of the Bundesgymnasium/Bundesrealgymnasium, went above and beyond my expectations with his generous material support as well as access to his students, faculty and staff. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, responsible for several church parishes in Ried im Innkreis, allowed me access to their parishes. In particular, Father Thomas Mühlberger helped me to find accommodations and to get started the first few weeks in Ried. Old friends Günther Gsaller and the entire Pitzer family welcomed me back into Ried, gave me helpful practical advice, and generally made me feel at home in Ried. The Pitzers’ household was my second home for the duration of both stays in Ried, and I am forever indebted to Oma Roth, Ernst, Wilma, Erik, Roman, Evelyn, Jakob and Judith for their vi friendship and hospitality. Josef Kettl and the Stelzhamerbund shared their enthusiasm for the local dialect with me, and guided me through the world of dialect poetry and folk culture. Dr. Roman Kloibhofer of the Rieder Rundschau made his newspaper’s archive available to me, and helped to raise interest in the community for my research. In the United States, Professor Paul Roberge served admirably as my dissertation advisor, but in so many ways he was also a colleague and friend. I could ask for no nicer, no more knowledgeable person to guide me than Paul. I also wish to thank Professors Helga Bister-Broosen and Roland Willemyns for their practical advice and suggestions; this dissertation would have not been completed without these two advisors to point me in the right direction, and at other times to help me step back and take a more objective viewpoint of my own work. I am grateful to Professor Laura Janda for her enthusiasm for my entire project, especially when it seemed at times to progress slowly. Without the assistance of Valerie Bernhardt, Barbara Brown and Pam Tharp in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at UNC Chapel Hill, and Frau Christl Renner at the BG/BRG Ried, I would have never made it through the bureaucracy of the university and school systems, respectively. I wish to thank my parents, Warren and Martha, for their support, in all forms, of my academic career. Of course, I am undyingly grateful to my wife Katja for her love, support and patience throughout my post- graduate career, and for her permission to live in Europe without her for a half-year. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................. xiii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS................................................................................................. xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................. xviii Chapter 1: Introduction..............................................................................................................1 Chapter 2: The state of sociolinguistic and variationist research in German-speaking countries .................................................................................6 2.1 The German language, its dialects and standards ..........................................................6 2.1.1 One German language, many dialects ..................................................................6 2.1.2 The Dialect-Standard Continuum .........................................................................8 2.1.3 German as a Polycentric Language.....................................................................15 2.1.4 Linguistic Insecurity/Inferiority Complex in Austria vis-à-vis Germany...........17 2.1.5 Geographical differences vs. societal differences...............................................20 2.1.6 Sociolinguistic research on Austrian dialects .....................................................22 2.2 Factors that affect an individual’s choice of variety....................................................24 2.2.1 Overt / Covert Prestige........................................................................................24 2.2.2 Socially constructed factors ................................................................................25 2.2.2.1 Age.......................................................................................................26 2.2.2.2 Gender..................................................................................................29 2.2.2.3 Social Class..........................................................................................32 2.2.2.4 Community Size...................................................................................37 viii 2.2.2.5 Education .............................................................................................38 2.2.2.6 Social Networks...................................................................................41 2.2.3 Commuters/Non-Commuters........................................................................43 2.2.4 Accommodation Theory ...............................................................................45 2.2.5 Attitudinal Studies ........................................................................................47 2.3 Previous dialectological and sociolinguistic research on the Innviertel ................48 Chapter 3: The community of Ried im Innkreis, Austria ........................................................51 3.1 Einzugsgebiet and Bezirkshauptmannschaft................................................................53 3.2 Economic issues...........................................................................................................54