Accepting a “New” Standard Variety: Comparing Explicit Attitudes in Luxembourg and Belgium

Abstract

Language maintenance efforts aim to bolster attitudes towards endangered languages by providing them with a standard variety as a means to raise their status and prestige. However, the introduced variety can vary in its degrees of standardisation. This paper investigates whether varying degrees of standardisation surface in explicit attitudes towards standard varieties in endangered vernacular speech communities. Following sociolinguistic models of standardisation, we suggest that explicit attitudes towards the standard variety indicate its acceptance in vernacular speech communities, reflecting its overall degree of standardisation. We use the standardised Attitudes towards Language (AtoL) questionnaire to investigate explicit attitudes towards the respective standard varieties in two related vernacular speech communities—the Belgische Eifel in Belgium and the Éislek in Luxembourg. The vernacular of these speech communities, Moselle Franconian, is considered generally vulnerable (UNESCO), and the two speech communities have opted to introduce different standard varieties: Standard Luxembourgish in Luxembourg shows lower degrees of standardisation and is only partially implemented. In contrast, Standard German in the Belgian speech community is highly standardised and completely implemented. Results show that degrees of standardisation surface in speakers’ explicit attitudes. Our findings have important implications for the role of standardisation in language maintenance efforts.

The Differential Object Marker in Valencian: Another Failure of Prescriptivism

“…While the standardization of a language in educational settings has been linked to positive outcomes fostering favorable attitudes toward the language (Vari and Tamburelli 2021), the outcomes may take a distinct turn when considering minority languages. The effects of standardization and prescriptivism can have detrimental consequences, exacerbating the already delicate situation they face.…”

English Language Attrition Levels and Language Maintenance Efforts among Indonesian Non-English Department Students

“…The aim of LMEs is to bolster the practice of an endangered language ability (De Bot et al, 2004;Maharani & Sudarwati, 2021;Vari &Tamburelli, 2021). Within the context of second and foreign language learning and language attrition, the objectives of LMEs are even multifaceted, addressing both community and individual needs.…”