HENK00009U English, 2017 curriculum - Free topic 9: The Influence of English + Sociolinguistics – Theory and Method

Volume 2017/2018
Content

The Influence of English

English is no longer the first language of an empire; it is the second language of most of the world – and exerts a tremendous influence on first languages worldwide, including Danish. That impact is what this course seeks to unravel, based on recent research in contact linguistics.

The English influence – including its covert forms – will be scrutinized from lexical, grammatical, pragmatic and language-political perspectives. Students will be encouraged to do empirical work on the influence of English as encountered in speech and writing, in books and newspapers, in films, on TV, in the social media, etc.

Using corpus linguistic tools, students may be able to study in detail the various echoes of English resonating in other languages, e.g. by deciphering Anglified sound patterns, by comparing Anglicisms in original and translated novels, or by monitoring the rise and/or fall of English-inspired expressions in non-Anglophone speech communities.

Non-Danish students are encouraged to participate, as several recipient languages will teach us more than just one, e.g. Danish.

The home paper concluding the course may range from being a theoretical essay over a corpus-based study to a commented dictionary of (a sub-category of) Anglicisms.

 

Sociolinguistics – Theory and Method

This course is an introduction to central research areas within the field of sociolinguistics. Through a mix of lectures, teacher-led discussions, student presentations and data sessions, course participants will explore key areas of the field, including:

  • language variation and change
  • language and interaction
  • language and style
  • language and identity
  • multilingualism
  • language policy and planning

 

Time will be devoted to sociolinguistic theory as well as sociolinguistic method, so students who are interested in pursuing sociolinguistic research later in their studies will have ample opportunity to generate ideas for research projects as part of the course.

The Influence of English

  • The syllabus includes selected articles from the following works, all available via Rex:
  • Anderman & Rogers (eds.) (2005), In and Out of English. Multilingual Matters.
  • Fischer & Pulaczewska (eds.) (2008), Anglicisms in Europe. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Furiassi et al. (eds.) (2012), The Anglicization of European Lexis. John Benjamins Publishing.

 

Sociolinguistics – Theory and Method

  • Holmes, Janet and Nick Wilson. 2017. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. 5th edition. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Plus additional readings listed on Absalon approximately a month before the course commences.
Classes, with particular emphasis on reading primary and secondary texts, oral discussion and developing proficiency in English.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 353,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment

http:/​​/​​hum.ku.dk/​​uddannelser/​​aktuelle_studieordninger/​​engelsk/​