Back Enclavament lingüístic Catalan Jazykový ostrov Czech Sprachinsel German Γλωσσική νησίδα Greek Lingvoinsulo Esperanto Enclave lingüístico Spanish Keelesaar Estonian Hizkuntza barrendegi Basque Kielisaari Finnish Keelesaar FIU-VRO
A language island (a calque of German Sprachinsel; also language enclave, language pocket) is an enclave of a language that is surrounded by one or more different languages.[1] The term was introduced in 1847.[2] Many speakers of these languages also have their own distinct culture.
Language islands often form as a result of migration, colonization, imperialism, or trade without a common tongue. Language islands are common of indigenous peoples, especially in the Americas, where colonization has led them to isolate themselves greatly.
- ^ Language and Space. An International Handbook of Linguistic Variation, Volume 1, 2009, Section "The history of language island research (Sprachinselforschung)", p.335
- ^ Peter Auer, Frans Hinskens, Paul Kerswill. Dialect change: convergence and divergence in European languages. p. 221. "The term 'Sprachinsel' was used for the first time in 1847 to designate a Slavonic community surrounded by a German-speaking population close to Konigsberg, East Prussia cf. Mattheier 1996. 812"