Stability and Divergence in Language Contact: Factors and Mechanisms - 16

Convergence, i.e. the increase of inter-systemic similarities, is usually considered the default development in language contact situations.

This volume focuses on the other logical possibilities of diachronic development, namely stability and divergence - two well-attested, but under-researched phenomena.

The contributions investigate the sociolinguistic and structural factors and mechanisms that lead to or at least reinforce both types of non-convergence, despite of language contact.

The contributions cover a wide range of language contact situations, including standard and non-standard varieties.