Dialect contact and the speed of Jespersen’s cycle in Middle Low German

Abstract

The present paper adds empirical evidence to the observation that dialect contact can lead to language change, and in particular, structural simplification. Empirically, the paper maps out the differences in the speed of the transition from stage II to stage III in different Middle Low German scribal dialects (Schreibsprachen) and proposes an account for these differences.

Keywords

• Jespersen’s cycle
• Middle Low German
• dialect contact
• contact-induced change