Vol. 3 (2018): Critical Youth Language Studies - Rethinking Concepts
Numerous contributions to the description and sociolinguistics of youth languages offer explanations for the seemingly strange marginalization and subjugation of the subject. Youth languages are different because they are not part of main- streamlinguisticpractices;theyareplacedin the margins of communication. Yet youth is neither a marginal condition nor a rare phenomenon as such; the experience of coming of age is one that we all share. Just as youth is not a marginal condition, neither is youth language. Therefore, another overdue critical reassessment is needed to address the observation that youth languages have often been constructed as ‘special’ in terms of their linguistic creativity by linguists. The papers collected in this special issue each shed light on various aspects of youth language and thus enrich the study of such phenomena through critical methodology, perspectives or theoretical implications. Breaking away from classical linguistic approaches and offering alternative perspectives also means including various formats and ways of writing. This broadens the view on language as it not only includes the typical papers in academic writing style and thus makes other voices possible.
Published:
2018-07-01
