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Csaba Földes: Dialektalität und Variation des Deutschen unter Mehrsprachigkeitsbedingungen

The present article starts with the premise that German displays a considerable degree of regional heterogeneity in form and usage. Using the framework of a variation model of dialectology, the article seeks to outline the range of diatopic variation in German and to describe a specific variety of German which arises in situations of linguistic contact involving bilingualism (the so-called Kontaktdeutsch) and to fit this into the contemporary range of varieties in German. In addition, the purpose of the article is to provide an impetus to the investigation of the internal motivation behind the multiplicity of linguistic varieties. The article uses samples of the spoken language from a Danube-Swabian variety of German collected at Hajosch/Hajós in the northern Batschka in Hungary. The primary aim is to record and analyse the synchronic manifestations of intimate linguistic and cultural contact between German and Hungarian. More precisely, the intention is to find out how the numerous and diverse linguistic and cultural points of contact are realized synchronically in spoken discourse in the vernacular. The results show that German is anything but a monolithic and homogeneous language. One can conclude that it shows an extraordinary degree of diatopic heterogeneity, its characteristic features being multiple regionality and diatopic diversity. In addition, it is marked by extensive use of hybrid formations and by sporadic irregular features, especially when it is in the position of a minority language. The so-called Kontaktdeutschdescribed here is a new kind of regional variety in contemporary German. Embedded in an elaborate nexus of multilingual and intercultural relationships, its salient characteristics are the extensive use of dialect features, diverse manifestations of language mixing and an astonishing mobility across the boundaries of language, dialect and culture.