Enregistering authenticity in language revitalisation

Abstract

Authenticity is a key concept of language revitalisation; any attempt to restore the language practices of the past aims at achieving the authentic language. Since, as much of recent sociolinguistic scholarship has argued, this goal can only be met through metapragmatic activities, the emically defined success of language revitalisation also depends on such processes. The introduction of new linguistic practices is therefore inevitably linked to a value‐centred and preferably consensual comparison with older practices. In our study, we argue that during the reanalysis of this comparison, linguistic practices subject to revitalisation are interpreted as independent semiotic registers, i.e. enregistered. These metapragmatic activities are illustrated with the example of the Moldavian Hungarian (Csángó) language spoken in North‐East Romania, by analysing a new literacy practice created during language revitalisation. This practice results in travelling texts, such as books and letters to the supporters of the revitalising programme from Hungary. These are designed to fulfil the expectations of the sponsors regarding the ‘authentic’ Csángó dialect, with a linguistic production that is enregistered both as a locally unique language and as a dialect of Hungarian. The analysis shows that the quest for authenticity can be discursively achieved even if the success of restoring former language practices is debatable.