Project A-15

Total Contact of Slavic Micro-Languages

Project Abstract

In project A15 the description of the complete grammatical systems of Molisian Slavic and of the Upper Sorbian colloquial language - two Slavic minority languages in Southern Italy (Molise) and Eastern Germany (Saxony) respectively - will be continued, especially with regard to the role of language contact. As in the last period, our research focuses on verbal aspect (including theoretical problems), but now, among other fields, additionally on word order, passive constructions, and changes in the phonological systems. As far as Sorbian is concerned, changes in the numeral and gender systems will also be investigated. By means of comparing the contact induced developments of the two micro-languages, we would like to make an important contribution to a data-oriented theory of language contact, now with a special consideration of expected adaptations which, however, did not come about.

Publications