Regional Dialects in the Lithuanian Urban Space: Skills, Practices and Attitudes

Abstract

The standard language ideology in Lithuania influences the use of regional dialects and the attitudes towards dialects. Based on data from several research projects on language use and attitudes carried out in Lithuanian cities and towns, this chapter deals with issues of dialect choice in different domains and the value of dialects. The analysis shows that people living in towns recognize Lithuanian dialects. About half of them affirm having proficiency in a dialect, but about 16% of these do not use it. People in towns who can speak a dialect usually use it with the people closest to them in the private sphere and far less frequently in public and semi-public life. Dialects are more known and used by older people. Much less dialect code is used with younger generations. This shows that the natural passing of a dialect from one generation to another is starting to break down.

Appendix

1.1 The Part of the Questionnaire Related to Dialects

• 1. When hearing a person speaking in dialect , would you recognize which dialect is he/she speaking?

  • 1. Yes, I would easily recognize all dialects

  • 2. It depends on the dialect , some dialects I distinguish easily, some with more difficulty

  • 3. I would understand that he/she speaks a dialect but I couldn’t say which dialect exactly

  • 4. I know nothing about Lithuanian dialects

• 2. Which dialect to you is most…?

  	…Beautiful	…Usual	…Prestigious	…Difficult to understand
  1. Aukštaitian
  2. Dzūkian
  3. Suvalkietian
  4. Žemaitian
  5. Neither
  6. Don’t know

• 3. In which of these situations do you think it is suitable to use dialect ? We have the Lithuanian context in mind.

  • 1. In business relationships

  • 2. In institutions of education

  • 3. In naming shops, cafés etc.

  • 4. In joking

  • 5. When speaking to close people, family members, friends, neighbours etc.

  • 6. When speaking to people you don’t know on the street, talking on the phone etc.

  • 7. In media (e.g. radio , television )

  • 8. Other: ________________________________

• 4. There are different opinions about the value/benefit in maintaining dialects. How much do you agree with the following statements?

  	Fully agree	Agree	Neither yes nor no	Do not agree	Do not agree at all	It is difficult to say
  1. Children and young people should be encouraged to speak the dialect
  2. Dialect use is more suitable to rural and not urban inhabitants

• 5. Can you speak any dialect ?

  • 1. I can (at least some of at least one dialect )

  • 2. I can’t and I don’t want to be able to

  • 3. I can’t but I would like to learn

  • 4. It is difficult to say

• 6. How frequently do you speak a dialect ?

  • 1. Often

  • 2. Sometimes

  • 3. I don’t because I have no one to speak it to

  • 4. I don’t because I don’t want to speak in dialect

• 7. In which of these situations do you use a dialect ?

• 8. Which dialect do you use and how frequently?

  		Aukštaitian	Dzūkian	Suvalkietian	Žemaitian
  1. You write	Often/sometimes
  	never
  2. You think	Often/sometimes
  	never
  3. You count	Often/sometimes
  	never
  4. You speak to wife/husband, partner	Often/sometimes
  	never
  5. You speak with children	Often/sometimes
  	never
  6. You speak with parents	Often/sometimes
  	never
  7. You speak with siblings	Often/sometimes
  	never
  8. You speak with grandparents	Often/sometimes
  	never
  9. You speak with grandchildren	Often/sometimes
  	never
  10. You speak with pets/animals	Often/sometimes
  	never
  11. You speak with neighbours	Often/sometimes
  	never
  12. You speak with friends	Often/sometimes
  	never
  13. You speak at a shop, a café etc.	Often/sometimes
  	never
  14. You speak with medical staff	Often/sometimes
  	never
  15. You speak with officials	Often/sometimes
  	never
  16. You speak at work	Often/sometimes
  	never