Abstract

A new youth language has appeared among teenagers in the Netherlands. The basis of this lingo is Dutch, but this is interlarded with elements derived from immigrant languages. This article examines the social meaning of this language phenomenon. On the one hand, it can be argued that language crossers move to the cultural territory of others out of respect and interest for the people who are associated with it. On the other hand, it can be argued that crossers show no respect for the cultural ownership held by the associated group. Cultural elements associated with another group may even be used to degrade the members of that group. First, I analyze the literal content of the foreign words that are used among teenagers in the Netherlands. Secondly, I infer the social connotation of language crossing from the social relations of the crosser with members of the groups that are associated with the language elements. I use write-in questionnaires completed by a large number of pupils attending schools throughout the Netherlands. Results show that the used words often have a literal meaning that could be understood as offensive, but that words and accents are both generally used with a friendly, social connotation.