The Measurement of Dutch Dialect Change: Lexicon versus Morphology versus Sound Components

Abstract

In this paper we report on a dialectometrical study of dialect change at the lexical, morphological and sound component levels. In particular, recently collected fieldwork data on a reasonable number of different Dutch dialects have been analysed to trace the processes leading to their convergence and/or divergence. Then, using these data, we provide the answers to four sets of research questions: Do dialects change? Do the patterns of change at the different levels correlate with each other? Which level is most strongly affected? Do dialects converge towards each other? Do the patterns of convergence/divergence at the different levels correlate with each other? Do dialects converge towards or diverge from standard Dutch? Do the patterns of convergence/divergence at the different levels correlate with each other? Do dialects which are distant from standard Dutch converge more strongly towards it than those that are closer to it? Can dialect change be explained by convergence among dialects and dialect convergence towards standard Dutch? In Section 2, as a first step towards answering the research questions, we outline the methods used to collect the data in the field and the measurement techniques applied to this information. Then, in Section 3, some initial results are presented and the research questions are answered. As this contribution is an interim report on work-in-progress, only part of our planned study can be discussed herein. Accordingly, only the preliminary conclusions from the outcomes of the available data for this part of the project will be discussed in Section 4.