Vismans, R. (2016) Address Choice in Dutch 2: Pragmatic Principles of Address Choice in Dutch. Dutch Crossing. ISSN 0309-6564
Abstract
This paper reports on research into the use of Dutch forms of address (i.e. the second-person pronouns u and je/jij) among two generations in the Netherlands. Its main aim is to determine the factors behind different choices of address pronoun. It takes the model of address choice proposed by Clyne et al. in Language and Human Relations (Cambridge University Press, 2009), and more specifically their concept of general pragmatic principles, as its theoretical inspiration. The research is based on a questionnaire in which respondents were asked which pronoun they used to address a variety of interlocutors. The questionnaire also asked respondents to reflect on their choice, especially if it was ambivalent (i.e. if they would address the same type of interlocutor sometimes with u and sometimes with je/jij). It is the qualitative analysis of these reflections that is the focus of this paper. Although there is some variation between the age groups’ evaluation of the importance of some principles, the article establishes (relative) age and familiarity as the leading principles in Dutch address choice. There is also a high level of meta-sociolinguistic awareness of the mechanisms behind address choice. The conclusion suggests a number of modest enhancements to Clyne et al.’s model of address choice.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016 Taylor & Francis. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Dutch Crossing. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Dutch language; address choice; sociolinguistics; pragmatic principles; distance; common ground |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Sheffield) > School of Languages and Cultures (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 18 Feb 2016 12:48 |
Last Modified: | 03 Mar 2018 01:38 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03096564.2015.1136122 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/03096564.2015.1136122 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:94919 |