Dialect acquisition by ‘new speakers’ of Dutch and their linguistic othering

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first section summarises what little is known about the acquisition of dialects and dialect features by locally born speakers whose parent(s) have a migration background, thus second-generation migrants in the Netherlands. The second part focusses on the province of Dutch Limburg, which is known for its widespread and active use of dialect, also in the public domain. The paper explores how new speakers acquire a dialect in Limburg but are restricted in their use of it by others who consider themselves the authentic speakers of this dialect. The linguistic othering of speakers with a migration background by these ‘authentic’ speakers has the effect that the ‘new’ speakers, although proficient in the dialect, do not use it in their daily practice or feel uncomfortable to use it.