Abstract
Multilingualism can fulfil several functions, in both oral and written texts. Sometimes it is used when knowledge in one of the languages is insufficient, or in order to quote someone speaking another language. It may, for example, also be used to mark a certain identity or a conversational turn.
This article shows how multilingualism in old songs is used with the same intentions as in modern multilingual contexts. Multilingualism in religious and secular old songs is discussed and illustrated with examples. Two secular songs are analyzed in more detail. Sometimes, the rules that usually are followed in codeswitching seem to be violated deliberately in these songs, in order to accomplish certain effects, such as the expression of drunkenness, passion or great sorrow. The term translanguaging, used in modern sociolinguistics, seems to cover phenomena in the way songs have been written down centuries ago, too.
The data consists of multilingual songs in which one of the languages is Dutch.
This article shows how multilingualism in old songs is used with the same intentions as in modern multilingual contexts. Multilingualism in religious and secular old songs is discussed and illustrated with examples. Two secular songs are analyzed in more detail. Sometimes, the rules that usually are followed in codeswitching seem to be violated deliberately in these songs, in order to accomplish certain effects, such as the expression of drunkenness, passion or great sorrow. The term translanguaging, used in modern sociolinguistics, seems to cover phenomena in the way songs have been written down centuries ago, too.
The data consists of multilingual songs in which one of the languages is Dutch.
| Translated title of the contribution | Forms and Functions of multilingualism in Old Songs from the Low Countries. |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 169-189 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Taal en tongval |
| Volume | 75 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2023 |