Real and fictitious distances in linguistic spaces

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55245/energeia.2023.005

Abstract

This paper offers a general reflection on the concepts of “space” and “distance” in linguistics. It also presents an overview of the methods applied in the measurement of distances, among which those based on quantitative techniques from real data. The objective description of distances, however, presents such limitations that subjective factors, based on perception processes, must be considered. In this regard, the “focal model” for the analysis of linguistic perception is presented and the concepts of “conceived variety”, “perceived variety” and “imagined variety” are introduced. The analysis of linguistic distances is of interest not only for linguistics, but also for the analysis of social, economic, and educational processes.

Author Biography

  • Francisco Moreno Fernández, Universität Heidelberg

    PhD in Hispanic Linguistics from Complutense University (Madrid). Degree in Political Science and Sociology. Alexander von Humboldt Professor at Heidelberg University and director of the Center for Ibero-American Studies at the same university. Specialist in dialectology, sociolinguistics, sociology of language and linguistic methodology. Among his most recent publications are: Tras Babel. De la naturaleza social del lenguaje (2018), La lengua española en su geografía (5th ed. 2020), Variedades de la lengua española (2020), La lengua y el sueño de la identidad (2020), La lengua de los hispanos unidos de América (2022) and, with Rocío Caravedo, The Routledge Handbook of Spanish Dialectology (2022).

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Published

2023-10-31

Issue

Section

Thematic focus: Epistemology of language and space. Coord.: Héctor Álvarez Mella (Universität Heidelberg)

How to Cite

Moreno Fernández, F. (2023). Distancias reales y ficticias en los espacios lingüísticos. ENERGEIA. ONLINE JOURNAL FOR LINGUISTICS, LANGUAGE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF LINGUISTICS, VIII, 82-103. https://doi.org/10.55245/energeia.2023.005