The Linguistic Landscape of Lower Styria on Picture Postcards (1890–1920)
The Linguistic Landscape of Lower Styria on Picture Postcards (1890–1920)

Summary/Abstract: Towards the end of the nineteenth century in the multilingual Habsburg Empire, language became an important – if not the most essential – ethnic marker in the construction of different national identities. In the linguistically mixed regions of the Empire, language was no longer perceived merely as a tool for communication that could be chosen pragmatically, depending on the social situations, and instead became an emblem of one’s national identity. However, how much is really known about how language was actually used in bilingual regions? By using the example of the bilingual Slovenian/German-speaking region of Lower Styria (Spodnja Štajerska/Untersteiermark), this paper suggests that picture postcards – a rich source available in large quantities – can help shed light on the visibility of language(s) in the public sphere, the social stratification and geographic distribution of languages, the language of formal and informal communication, as well as on the various forms of bilingualism and language contact. In short, the examination of picture postcards from the turn of the century, a medium close to everyday life, yields insights into the linguistic landscape of Lower Styria and paints a picture of a region characterised not only by national conflicts but also peaceful coexistence.

• Details
• Contents