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A problem in sociolinguistic methodology: investigating a rare syntactic form1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2008

Janice Carruthers
Janice Carruthers
Affiliation:
School of Modern Languages, The Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, e-mail: jcarruthers@clio.arts.qub.ac.uk
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Abstract

This article discusses a number of problematic issues relating to the methodology involved in investigating a rare syntactic form. Three key areas are explored, namely fieldwork technique, sampling methodology and data analysis. Although the starting-point is a particular survey of a rare French tense, the questions raised are of more general relevance. In the light of previous research, both theoretical and practical sides of the issues are discussed and debated.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of French Language Studies , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 1 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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