Stability and Divergence in Language Contact: Factors and Mechanisms

Studies in Language Variation #16

by Kurt Braunmüller (Editor), Steffen Höder (Editor), Karoline Kühl (Editor)

Convergence, i.e. the increase of inter-systemic similarities, is usually considered the default development in language contact situations. This volume focuses on the other logical possibilities of diachronic development, namely stability and divergence – two well-attested, but under-researched phenomena. The contributions investigate the sociolinguistic and structural factors and mechanisms that lead to or at least reinforce both types of non-convergence, both despite of language contact and as its direct outcome, covering a range of different language contact situations including standard and non-standard varieties.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2014