Identität und Sprache in Südbrasilien

Abstract

The article deals with the “new” self-image of the German-Brazilians as becomes apparent in interviews in three Bohemian-speaking places in Southern Brazil. The identity of the descendants of Bohemian immigrants as constructed in the semi-structured interviews is primarily based on the identity repertoire of the past. The common language serves their new identity by separating the past from the present and helping to differentiate the language area of Bohemian from that of other contact varieties and Portuguese. The new, “hybrid” identity is constructed within the discourse, in that the speakers use object-language, metalinguistic and discursive means to consolidate their identity.