Entwicklungen und Perspektiven in der Dialektologie des Deutschen: Einige Schlaglichter

Abstract

This article is divided into four sections. Section one draws a sketch of the developments in German dialectology during the past 30 years. Section two establishes the distinction between the description of dialects focusing on the linguistic system, dialect sociology referring to usage and evaluation, and dialect pragmatics. Section three proposes research perspectives within the framework of a 'new dialectology'. The concluding section four introduces an empirical project in co-operation of several universities (Münster, Bonn, Hamburg, Bielefeld, Potsdam, Frankfurt/Oder) designed to research into the current linguistic situation in northern Germany.