Objective local vitality and linguistic networks as predictors of perceived vitality

摘要

The present paper investigates the relationship between objective ethnolinguistic vitality, individual networks of linguistic contacts (INLCs) and perceived vitality among German-speaking (N = 415) and Italian-speaking (TV = 379) adolescents in South Tyrol, Italy. Supporting our hypothesis, we found that INLC has a greater effect on perceived vitality in localities where the in-group made up a local majority than in localities where the in-group was in a minority position. However, this effect has only occurred for perceptions of out-group, not in-group vitality. Findings and implications are discussed.