Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
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Contrary to most studies of Polder Dutch, which argue that Polder Dutch and Standard Dutch have different social connotations (Stroop 1998, 2010; Van Bezooijen 1999, Van Bezooijen and Van den Berg...Show moreContrary to most studies of Polder Dutch, which argue that Polder Dutch and Standard Dutch have different social connotations (Stroop 1998, 2010; Van Bezooijen 1999, Van Bezooijen and Van den Berg 2001), this thesis aims to demonstrate that present-day language users do not distinguish between the two varieties. Combining two matched guise experiments it shows not only that non-linguists are not able to name ‘Polder Dutch,’ but also that they do not rate the two varieties differently on a range of evaluative scales, providing evidence that Polder Dutch is not perceived to be distinguishable from Standard Dutch.Show less
Legal language, the language of law, has its own characteristics which are not only expressed in different languages of different legal systems but also in different languages in the same legal...Show moreLegal language, the language of law, has its own characteristics which are not only expressed in different languages of different legal systems but also in different languages in the same legal system (e.g. French and English in the Canada). In the Netherlands and Suriname, the official language and the legal language is Dutch. However, there are differences in the Dutch used in these countries. The legal systems of the Netherlands and Suriname have gone their own way since 1975. This is expected to show in the Legal Dutch of both countries. This research investigates how the Legal Dutch of Suriname and the Netherlands, respectively, have developed. The aim of this study is to compare the legal language of these two legal systems and detect differences in the usage of Dutch legal language. As claimed by Marckwardt in 1958, (post)colonial varieties of a language change less than the variety spoken in the (former) mother country. This theory is referred to as the ‘colonial lag’. This research will be limited to criminal law. Within this area of law, legal texts will be compared. The expected outcome is that Surinamese Legal Dutch will be more conservative than the Legal Dutch in the Netherlands.Show less
