Structural neutrality in Frisian-Dutch interaction

Abstract

In this article I discuss the phenomenon of neutrality in Frisian-Dutch interaction. I hypothesize as to how neutrality plays a role in code-switching between the two languages, and how speakers seek to extend it through interlingual conversion rules. Finally I show how a number of structural changes in the Frisian grammatical system can be accounted for by assuming an internalization of these conversion rules by the bilingual child.