Folk linguistics

Abstract

So-called folk linguistics, i.e. folk beliefs concerning language, may be a valuable source of information for various linguistic fields and for practical applications, e.g. in teaching practice. The author presents an analysis of folk linguistics as it can be reconstructed from Internet discussions by Czechspeaking women (especially mothers). The results show that the folk theory of language and its use is quite complex, with multiple connections to a scientific theory of language (probably acquired through school education) and with important evaluative features (including e.g. folk theories of correctness and errors). The author proposes a new Czech term (laická jazykověda) and suggests that the theory should be seen as dynamic (e.g. changing over time and during speakers’ lives) and structured (e.g. consisting of a centre and peripheries and containing several “layers” of shared sub-theories).