Rudolf Muhr
University of Graz, Austria

Where we were and where we are now:
Five years "Working Group on Non-dominant Varieties of pluricentric Languages" and research on pluricentric languages: A resume

Keywords: Pluricentric theory, non-dominance, dominance, research, resume

In this paper I will give an overview about what has happened in research on pluricentric languages in general and in particular in respect to the non-dominant varieties since the foundation of the group in September 2010 in  Braga, Portugal.

A number of theoretical aspects will be addressed: The definition of non-dominance and dominance, how to define pluricentric languages, the theoretical foundation for the description of plc. languages, the problem of plc. languages which share a contagious language area (German, French, English in North-America, Spanish, etc.) and the so called "overlapping argument". Some reflections will also be devoted to the concept of "standard" which is causing a lot of confusion in sociolinguistics and in variational linguistics.

Finally I will also address the difference between the non-dominant and the dominant view on pluricentric languages and the social effects that go with both standpoints.