The Social Context of the Slavic-German Language Contact: North-eastern Bavaria and the Cheb Region in the Early Middle Ages
Abstract
The spatial distribution of Slavic hydronyms and toponyms in the individual parts of northeastern Bavaria and the Cheb region varies considerably. While hydronyms of the Slavic origin are only confirmed on a small proportion of the region, Slavic toponyms are widespread, though in some areas in a mosaic-like pattern.
This was due to extremely diverse social processes that were behind the language contact between the 8th/9th century and the 12th/13th century. In some areas the language contact was the consequence of the penetration of the socially minor Slavic language, in other areas it resulted from the spreading of the socially dominant German language.
A similar picture is provided by the spatial distribution of various categories and types of German names. Owing to a different hierarchy of hydronyms, it is also possible to determine, at least roughly, where, when and by which social strata the German or Slavic language was spoken, or both.
At a more general level, the paper seeks to contribute to a more balanced study of the connections between language, ethnicity and material culture, as well as to the identification of the processes of cultural change and migration.