Bernhard Pöll - Böcker

Standardisation is not a natural form of language change. The aim of such efforts is usually to create a largely uniform standard, often backed by a strong standard language ideology. However, standard languages are sometimes Janus-faced. Additional standard varieties emerge, leading to situations with «double standards» or even «multiple standards».This volume brings together fifteen contributions on «double standards» in twelve languages – and various standard varieties thereof – from three language families, thus providing a novel comparative view on standardisation. Three main aspects of the «double standards» concept are identified: the descriptive vs prescriptive notion of standards, the coexistence of standard varieties in pluricentric or pluriareal settings, and the impact of the cohabitation of several standards in native or foreign language teaching.

The Romanistische Arbeitshefte (Romance Studies Textbooks), edited by Georgia Veldre-Gerner and Volker Noll since 2004, have been constant and reliable companions for students of Romance Studies for more than fifty years. In their conception, they are designed as a reflection of the present state of research with an orientation towards application and the specific needs and difficulties of students. Thus they provide a reliable instrument for getting to grips with various areas of Romance linguistic studies and encourage students to utilise their newly-acquired knowledge with integrated exercises.

This book provides a detailed introduction to Romance linguistics, giving valuable information on 1) working techniques and tools, 2) the sub-disciplines of linguistics, and 3) Romance languages, thus linking theoretical reflection with practical skills. The book is divided into identically structured units (including working techniques, branches of linguistics, and language outlines) that provide a condensed introduction to the field. Particular focus is placed on the extensive exercise section. The password needed to access the linguistic samples on the website can be found at the end of the book and ebook edition.

This collected volume deals with the tension between literary production and traditional language norms in the two Americas. The central question posed is that of whether and how literature assumes an initiating or even determining role in establishing pluricentric language norms. Overview accounts of the genesis of (literary) language norms in the various language areas (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish) are accompanied by portraits of particular writers, analysing their specific contribution to the questioning of exogenic norms and the strengthening of endogenic standards.