Canadian researcher delves into the Frisian mind: how do Frisians process their languages?

Code switching 

Rose is investigating how Frisian speakers use Frisian and Dutch, and what happens in the brain when they switch between the two languages. This process is also known as code-switching. The research forms part of a larger project that focuses not only on language use, but also on how Frisians experience technology and artificial intelligence. The insights gained may later contribute to the development of technology that is better suited to Frisian society.

For the study, participants are shown images on a laptop. They are asked to name what they see – sometimes in Frisian when they see a Frisian flag, and sometimes in Dutch when a Dutch flag is shown alongside it. Participants wear a headset with a microphone. They also complete a short questionnaire about their language use, their experiences with Frisian and the role the language plays in their identity. “Switching between languages can be quite challenging,” says Rose. “But the participants who have already taken part found it particularly enjoyable.” The study is open to people aged between 18 and 75 who speak both Frisian and Dutch

Language processing

According to Rose, his research is unique because little is yet known about how adult Frisian speakers process their language intellectually. “As far as we know, this is the first study to examine the language use of adults in Fryslân from this perspective.” Differences between Frisian dialects are not a problem either. “It is precisely this variation that makes the research particularly interesting. Together with colleagues from the Fryske Akademy, I am trying to gain a better understanding of where these differences come from and what they mean.”
 

French-speaking Canada

Rose’s fascination with language did not come out of the blue, incidentally. He grew up in Canada on Prince Edward Island, an island on the east coast of the country where, incidentally, several Frisian emigrants also live. At school, he received a French-language education for many years. Later, he lived in South Korea and Japan, where he also learnt to speak Korean and Japanese. Those experiences led him to a key conviction: language is much more than a means of communication. “For me, a language is a window into the heart and soul of a community,” he says.

He recognises the pride he sees among French-speaking Canadians in Fryslân too. “That sense of pride is essential for the preservation of a language, but also for the preservation of a cultural and personal identity.”

Take part?

Would you like to take part in this study? Please book an appointment with researcher Dylan Rose. You can take part at two locations: at Campus Fryslân in Leeuwarden and at the Faculty of Arts in Groningen.