Absolutní a proporcionální frekvence v ČNK ve světle výzkumu morfosyntaktické variace v češtině

This contribution discusses three ways of operationalising the notion of frequency as it relates to how often an item occurs in a corpus: the proportional frequency of forms (i.e. percentage of time that one or another variant is found) and two ways of looking at absolute frequency. Working with data from unmotivated morphological variation in Czech case forms, we show that different types of data contribute to some extent to the way variation is perceived and implemented by native speakers, but suggest that proportional frequency seems most salient for speakers in forming their impressions and shaping their behaviour

Czech Diglossia: Dismantling or Dissolution?

This contribution looks at two trends in the evolution of Czech diglossia over the past hundred years that can be described as the ‘dismantling’ and ‘dissolution’ of the diglossic language situation. Dismantling concerns official attempts to reach a ‘rapprochement’ between H and L by modifying the prescribed description of H to incorporate elements from L. Dissolution concerns unofficial changes resulting from societal upheaval and technological advances that have caused a blurring between public and private space and between the formal and informal spheres. The evident retreat of the H code, ‘Literary Czech,’ calls into question the extent to which Ferguson’s classic definitions still apply in the Czech lands. Official changes have attempted to maintain the functionality and prestige of H, but have frequently merely enriched H with previously proscribed features of the dominant L code, ‘Common Czech.’ Unofficial changes have seen L expand into domains that were previously the exclusive preserve of H. Attitudes characteristic of diglossic language situations continue to sustain the distinction, while the actual functional uses of the two varieties has already departed substantially from a diglossic language situation

The linguistic landscape of a Czech heritage site : recording and presenting the past and present of Hrubý Rohozec

In this study, we examine the linguistic landscape of Hrubý Rohozec, a stately home in the northern Czech Republic that is open to the public, as well as that of the surrounding town of Turnov. In doing so, we describe the visual environment of signage and written language use in the stately home, and suggest how and why the practices of signage and display differ from area to area around the stately home, as well as how the situation at Hrubý Rohozec differs functionally and ideologically from the local environment. The evolving history of the building, the particular nature of the information conveyed, the projected audience and the ideological stance towards them and towards the home’s history all contribute to a complex picture facing the observer