Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Modern Languages

Department

Modern Languages

First Advisor

Christopher Sapp

Second Advisor

Allison Burkette

Third Advisor

Noah D. Goldblatt

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

In this thesis, I explain perceptions of the German dialect Kiezdeutsch. The basis for the research came from four recorded interviews of male and female Kiezdeutsch speakers. I used the Kiezdeutsch recordings to perform research at the University of Mississippi by interviewing nine different German students who were studying abroad for the semester. The interviewees were separated into three different focus groups. I then performed a pilot study of perceptual dialectology folloby an open discussion. Although my sample size proved to be too small and limited to yield any statistically significant results, the data was regardless intriguing. This study focuses on the linguistic and social perceptions of Kiezdeutsch speakers from Kiezdeutsch speakers themselves as well as non-Kiezdeutsch speakers from Germany. The data collected suggests that the speakers of the Kiezdeutsch dialect are more negatively perceived than the dialect itself. I also concluded that there appeared to be a gendered aspect of this dialect according to the data gathered as well as a possible link between the Kiezdeutsch dialect and Islam.

Concentration/Emphasis

Emphasis: Languages, Specialization: German

Included in

Linguistics Commons

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