Ikkemålområders

Ikkemålområders are a concept within linguistics, specifically sociolinguistics and dialectology, referring to regions where a particular dialect or language variation is not spoken or is considered absent by its speakers. This doesn't mean the language or dialect is entirely absent from the geographical area, but rather that the speakers of a *different* dialect or language perceive it as not belonging to that specific territory. The term itself originates from Swedish, literally meaning "non-speech areas" or "areas of non-speech."

The definition of an ikkemålområde is thus subjective and dependent on the perception of the speakers. For example, a speaker of Standard Swedish might consider a region where a strong local dialect is prevalent as an ikkemålområde for Standard Swedish, even if Standard Swedish is understood and used to some extent. Conversely, speakers of that local dialect might view their region as an ikkemålområde for Standard Swedish. This concept highlights the social and cognitive boundaries that speakers draw around their own linguistic norms and how these perceptions can differ from objective linguistic realities.

Ikkemålområders are not fixed geographical entities but rather social constructs that can shift over time as linguistic landscapes change due to migration, standardization, or the influence of media. The study of ikkemålområders helps researchers understand how speakers define and maintain linguistic identities and boundaries within a larger speech community.