Language shift and code alternation: a study of the multi-lingual speech community of Mennonites at the First Mennonite Church, Calgary

Date
1985-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Calgary
Abstract
The speech community being examined in this paper was founded in 1946 and included members who were immigrants from the post World War II migration and also of the post World War I migration. The community known as the Scarborough Mennonite Church originated with 29 members. Based on the church registry at the church's inception, all members' names were of Dutch origin. The comparison of this early list with that of today's membership indicates a definite change in the Mennonites' view of admitting 'outsiders' to the church and thus the accompanying shift in value placed on language within the church.
Description
Keywords
Linguistics, German language, Ethnology, Multilingual communication, Code switching (Linguistics), Linguistic change, Sociolinguistics, Christian sociology--Mennonites, English language, Names, Personal--Mennonite
Citation
Funk, V. (1985). Language shift and code alternation: a study of the multi-lingual speech community of Mennonites at the First Mennonite Church, Calgary. Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics, 11(Summer),33-47.