NORM:Fs versus Crowd.

Zum Einsatz von Crowdsourcing-Apps in der Dialektologie

Abstract

This paper examines the potential of crowdsourcing applications for dialectological research by comparing data from a traditional dialect survey with those collected via the Österreichische Dialekt-App (OeDA). While traditional dialectological studies often focus on NORM:Fs – nonmobile, older, rural males or females – this study explores whether crowdsourced data from a more diverse user base can yield new insights into patterns of dialect variation and change. To this end, six phonological variables observed to be stable in traditional dialects are analyzed in both the traditional dialect data and the OeDA data. Results indicate that while some features remain stable across both datasets, others – particularly those involving umlaut vowels – exhibit signs of ongoing language change in the app data, marked by convergence with the standard variety, especially among urban participants. The findings highlight the value of dialect apps not only as cost-effective and accessible tools for data collection but also as platforms that capture ongoing dialect dynamics. Despite methodological limitations, such tools enhance both linguistic research and public engagement in dialectology.