IDENTITY, YOUTH LANGUAGES AND MORE

Guest lecture by Jacomine Nortier, Utrecht University

Where? 1481-366, Nobelparken, Aarhus University

When? Tuesday May 27, 13.30-14.45 / 1.30 PM-2.45 PM

Organized by Research Program “Language and Communication”

and LICS (Linguistics, Semiotics and Cognitive Science)

All are welcome.

About the lecture:

In the past two or three decades, there is an increasing interest in youth languages (YLs). There is a vast literature from many parts of the world, showing differences and commonalities, sometimes unexpected. It is broadly assumed that YLs are used to index identity. In my talk, I will give examples to illustrate this. Michael Silverstein once introduced the phrase ‘Total Linguistic Fact’: a concentration on linguistic form exclusively, without paying attention to its use and ideology, but that will never cover language in its full richness. To illustrate this, I will discuss the notion of contextualization or rather: the danger(?) of decontextualization. In our part of the world, youth languages are often used as ‘antilanguages’, in M.A.K. Halliday’s terms. I will use examples from youth languages in North Africa and East Asia to illustrate that youth languages can also be used to express upward social mobility.

If there is enough time, I will go into the use of youth languages in digital communities, illustrating the opposite of face-to-face encounters.