36.928, Reviews: Mutual Intelligibility between Closely Related Languages: Gomwalk (2025)

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Subject: 36.928, Reviews: Mutual Intelligibility between Closely Related Languages: Gomwalk (2025)

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Date: 14-Mar-2025
From: Philemon Victor Gomwalk [philgomwalk at gmail.com]
Subject: Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics: Gomwalk (2025)


Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/35-3063

Title: Mutual Intelligibility between Closely Related Languages
Series Title: Language Contact and Bilingualism [LCB]
Publication Year: 2024

Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
           https://cloud.newsletter.degruyter.com/mouton
Book URL:
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111134697/html

Author(s): Charlotte Gooskens

Reviewer: Philemon Victor Gomwalk

Summary
This book is organized into three parts. Part I (Chapters 2 to 5)
explains how to measure the level of intelligibility and how to
quantify linguistic and extralinguistic determinants of
intelligibility (see Figure 1.1). Part II (Chapters 6 and 7) deals in
further depth with specific methodology-related issues relating to the
statistical measurement and assessment of intelligibility indices
between dialects and languages in general. Finally, Part III (Chapters
8 and 9) discusses practical and theoretical reasons for studying
mutual intelligibility, desiderata for future research, and some
overall conclusions.
Chapter 1 (pp. 1-12) of Gooskens’ book provides useful introductory
information on basic definitions and clarification of major concepts
and ideas associated with the historical developments in evolution and
basic dynamics that underpin intelligibility research in general.
In Chapter 2 (pp. 13-64), Gooskens provides an overview of various
methods for measuring intelligibility at different linguistic levels
(word level, sentence level, text level, discourse level). He
discusses a number of considerations that should be recalled when
choosing a method for carrying out an intelligibility investigation;
he considers the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and
exemplifies each with numerous examples.
Chapter 3 (pp. 65-75) presents the MICReLa project as a specific
intelligibility case study conducted between selected West European
languages. The chapter details the methodology and some of the
material used in this study of the mutual intelligibility of 16
closely related languages in Europe (see Gooskens, van Heuven,
Golubović, Schuppert, Swarte & Voigt, 2018).
Chapter 4 (pp. 76-102) provides an overview of extra-linguistic
determinants of intelligibility and discusses how they can be
quantified. It also presents examples of studies that have found a
link between intelligibility and each of the extra-linguistic
determinants.
Chapter 5(pp. 103-145) presents typical methods, procedures and
research tools/instruments for quantifying and analyzing linguistic
determinants of intelligibility at various linguistic levels (lexical,
phonetic, morphological, syntactic, paralinguistic). It also provides
examples of investigations that have shown significant correlations
between intelligibility measurements and linguistic measurements.
Chapter 6 (pp. 149-182) presents various investigations that have
looked into the origin of asymmetric intelligibility. Such factors can
be both linguistic and extra-linguistic.
Chapter 7 (pp. 183-196) focuses on research intended to make advances
toward a model of mutual intelligibility, including an analysis of
data from the MICReLa project (see Gooskens, van Heuven, Golubović,
Schuppert, Swarte & Voigt, 2018).
Chapter 8 (pp. 199-217) discusses various theoretical and practical
applications of intelligibility research.
Chapter 9 (pp. 218-224) concludes with the identification of gaps in
our knowledge about processes and phenomena in the area of mutual
intelligibility and points to directions for further investigations.
Evaluation
Charlotte Gooskens, the author of the book, Mutual Intelligibility
between Closely Related Languages, is not a stranger to the in-depth
study of linguistic intelligibility phenomena, especially in relation
to Scandinavian and West European languages.  This author has been
actively involved in a number of top-level fieldwork projects,
focusing on various aspects of linguistic intelligibility between
language varieties. Out of this intense field-oriented research, she
has produced several key publications, from 2004 till 2025. The
present book may well be viewed as a ‘first-stage’ effort, on the part
of Gooskens’, to bring together into a single, integrated whole the
different strands of her emerging theoretical insights and
methodological intuitions on the subject matter of linguistic
intelligibility. It is in this respect that I view the publication of
this new book as ‘significant’ and ‘ground-breaking’ for the
progressive development of linguistic intelligibility research in
general.
As a sociolinguist, I maintain keen interest in issues of mutual
intelligibility between closely related language varieties. In this
regard, I find Gooskens’ discussion of developments of new
methodologies in mutual intelligibility research in language very
interesting and stimulating. The author has rightly indicated that
over time, many innovations relating to language intelligibility
studies, have arisen out of collaborations between researchers from
dialectology, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, applied
linguistics, and neuro-linguistics. The findings and ideas from such
collaborations have made it possible to measure different levels of
mutual intelligibility between speakers of many language varieties and
to relate such occurrences to influences of linguistic, paralinguistic
and extralinguistic factors.  Many dimensions of such
interdisciplinary research collaborations are not only highlighted but
also comprehensively discussed in different chapters and sections of
Gooskens’ book.
The book is, on the whole, well organized in identifying, defining and
comprehensively explaining the key theoretical concepts, as well as
the methodological procedures associated with intelligibility
research, with emphasis on Scandinavian languages in particular and
Western European language groups in general. For example, Chapter 1
(Section 1. 1: pp. 5-9) of the book is used to introduce, define and
explain the theoretical precepts underlying foundational concepts such
as ‘variety’, ‘language’, ‘dialect’, and ‘multilingualism’, as well as
the multidimensional nature of ‘linguistic intelligibility’ and
linguistic comprehensibilty’, among several others.
In order to contextualize the overall framework within her discussion
of linguistic intelligibility phenomena can be properly understood, I
have noted with satisfaction that Gooskens has arranged the contents
of her book systematically, trying to balance both theoretical and
methodological dimensions of his subject matter. In this respect, I
have also observed that there are three functionally–related parts to
the book; with each part positioned to provide meaningful thematic
continuity with the next part.
In the first part of Gooskens’ book (titled ‘Measurements’,
encompassing Chapters 2, 3 4 & 5), I find that the topic and subject
matter of each chapter is both appropriate and relevant to different
issues of intelligibility research discussed. Chapter 2 deals with
specific issues related to the methods and procedures for measuring
intelligibility between language varieties. Chapter 3 focuses on
fieldwork experiences associated with a specific case study of
intelligibility research - the MICReLa Project exploring selected West
European languages, juxtaposed to Scandinavian languages (see Gooskens
et al. 2018). Chapter 4 deals with theoretical issues surrounding
extra-linguistic determinants of intelligibility between language
varieties. Chapter 5 focuses on both theoretical and methodological
linguistic and paralinguistic determinants of intelligibility between
language varieties.
In the second part of Gooskens’ book (titled ‘Further Analyses’,
encompassing Chapters 6 & 7), I also find that their respective
contents are relevant to an overall understanding of both the
diachronic evolution and synchronic development of intelligibility
research in Northern and Western Europe in particular and other parts
of the world in general. Chapter 6 is pivotal to the discussion in
Gooskens’ book because it offers innovative and far-reaching arguments
for the realities of asymmetric intelligibility as it occurs in
Scandinavian and other West European languages. The arguments are
aptly supported and anchored by numerous documented examples, all
validating the real-life occurrences of intelligibility phenomena
between language varieties. Chapter 7 also augments the theoretical
relevance of Gooskens’ book by offering what I judge to be a robust
and insightful model of intelligibility that integrates subcomponents
and that is able to meaningfully explain the underlying dynamics of
general and inherent intelligibility. as well as communicative
intercomprehension between language varieties.
The third and final part of Gooskens book (titled ‘Applications and
conclusions’, covering Chapters 8 and 9) can be seen as providing
pertinent and coherent conclusions to the discussion on
intelligibility research phenomena in general.  Chapter 8 serves to
highlight and provide relevant insights on how the key ideas and
concepts discussed in preceding chapters of Gooskens’ book have been
understood and, subsequently, applied to real-life scenarios of
linguistic intelligibility and communicative intercomprehension in
different parts of the contemporary world. Chapter 9 offers a number
of far-reaching conclusions and suggestions on how future
investigations into intelligibility research can be promoted, refined
and made more attractive to emergent sociolinguistic scholars in
different parts of the contemporary world.
>From close readings of the respective chapters and sections of
Gooskens’ book, I am convinced that it represents an inspiring and
significant contribution to the emergent global literature on language
intelligibility studies, developing latent issues raised in previous
works of the author (see Gooskens, Kürschner & van Bezooijen, 2012;
Gooskens & van Heuven, 2017;Gooskens, van Heuven, Golubović,
Schuppert, Swarte & Voigt, 2018; Gooskens & van Heuven, 2020).
All eight chapters in Gooskens’ book are thoughtfully-organized and
well-written, citing (where necessary) appropriate case–study data,
tables and graphs, to aid potential readers in gaining better
understanding of many key concepts and issues related to global
intelligibility research. These are appropriately highlighted,
discussed and illustrated from a wide range of synchronic and
diachronic language sources.  I also note with satisfaction that
coherence of discourse in key sections of the book is facilitated
through apt cross-referencing to relevant past studies in the research
area.
On basis of my overall assessment of its academic worth and potential
publication value, I would particularly recommend Gooskens’ book to
all readers with an average exposure to sociolinguistic terminologies.
For readers with slightly higher–level exposure and research interests
in linguistic intelligibility studies, the book should be able to
offer both broader and  more in-depth insights into emergent
perspectives on contemporary linguistic variation and communicative
language usage, especially as these affect language varieties with
typical diachronic affiliations.
References (In-Text citations)
Gooskens, Charlotte, Sebastian Kürschner & Renée van Bezooijen. 2012.
Intelligibility of Swedish for Danes: Loan words compared with
inherited words. In Henk van der Liet & Muriel Norde (eds.), Language
for its own sake, 435–455. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Gooskens, Charlotte & Vincent J. van Heuven. 2017. Measuring
cross-linguistic intelligibility in the Germanic, Romance and Slavic
language groups. Speech Communication, 89. 25–36.
Gooskens, Charlotte, Vincent J. van Heuven, Jelena Golubović, Anja
Schuppert, Femke Swarte & Stefanie Voigt. 2018. Mutual intelligibility
between closely related languages in Europe. International Journal of
Multilingualism , 15(2). 169–193.
Gooskens, Charlotte & Vincent J. van Heuven. 2020. How well can
intelligibility of closely related languages in Europe be predicted by
linguistic and non-linguistic variables? Linguistic Approaches to
Bilingualism , 10(3). 351–379.
Supplementary Sources
(Other relevant studies by Reviewed Author)
Gooskens, Charlotte & Wilbert Heeringa. 2004a. Perceptive evaluation
of Levenshtein dialect distance measurements using Norwegian dialect
data. Language Variation and Change , 16(3). 189–207.
Gooskens, Charlotte & Wilbert Heeringa. 2004b. The position of Frisian
in the Germanic language area. In Dicky Gilbers, Maartje Schreuder &
Nienke Knevel (eds.), On the boundaries of phonology and phonetics,
61–87. Groningen: University of Groningen
Gooskens, Charlotte. 2007. The contribution of linguistic factors to
the intelligibility of closely related languages. Journal of
Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 28(6). 445–467.
About the Reviewer
Philemon Gomwalk is a teacher and researcher, affiliated to the
University of Jos in Nigeria, with research interests in both
synchronic and diachronic studies and analyses of languages belonging
to the Chadic sub-phylum of Afro-Asiatic within the Nigerian
sociolinguistic environment.



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