Published: 2026-10-29

Äußere und innere Mehrsprachigkeit: Formen und Funktionen in Texten

Norbert Richard WOLF
Germanistische Werkstatt
Section: Linguistics
DOI https://doi.org/10.25167/pg.6386

Abstract

External multilingualism refers to the fact that several languages are used within a society or community. In contrast, the term internal multilingualism refers to the use of several varieties of a single language within a society or community. So-called belles-lettres (in the broadest sense) process these forms of multilingualism in various ways. Thus, texts of all kinds – from chansons to pop songs, from fictional to autobiographical narratives, from experimental poetry to characterization of personae in plays – can illustrate, process, and comment on situations of multilingualism. Furthermore, such texts can demonstrate that multilingualism helps elevate the linguistic culture of a society or community to a high level.

Keywords:

external multilingualism, internal multilingualism, linguistic art, belles-lettres, migration

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Citation rules

WOLF, N. R. (2026). Äußere und innere Mehrsprachigkeit: Formen und Funktionen in Texten. Germanistische Werkstatt, (15), 9–34. https://doi.org/10.25167/pg.6386

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