Sociolinguistics and Public Opinion in Bulgaria on the Relationship Between Written and Spoken Language

Authors:

Pages: 277-294
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/QBOV8475

Abstract:

The article examines the differences between the views of theoretical sociolinguistics and the prevailing public opinion in Bulgaria regarding the relationship between written and spoken language. In sociolinguistics, when we talk about language codification, we must take into account the changes in language norms that have emerged in the oral practice of intellectuals who naturally follow standard language norms. To achieve that, we need empirical investigations of a really large scope. This general sociolinguistic view on adapting written language norms to the linguistic changes in oral communication differs significantly from the dominant public opinion which advocates that spoken language has to comply with written language norms as they are considered a prestigious pattern to emulate, and that the adaptation process should be directed from spoken to written language. The data on the public opinion in question is taken from a nationally representative survey on language attitudes towards written language norms, conducted in 2017.

Keywords:

standard language, written language, spoken language, language attitudes, public opinion

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