Unit information: Advances in Historical Linguistics in 2011/12

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Advances in Historical Linguistics
Unit code GERM32052
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Professor. Langer
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

School/department Department of German
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will focus on recent development in historical linguistics research. Particular attention will be paid to the field of historical sociolinguistics and its application to the history of German and English.

In this course we will journey through the complete history of German to identify and discuss landmark trends and mo(ve)ments which shaped the course of the language. Primarily focussing on sociolinguistic developments, students will gain a detailed understanding of the processes of speaker- and society-induced language change, e.g. the importance of particular individuals like Charlemagne or Luther or historical processes such as the rise of the German nation in the seventeenth-century.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

  • be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
  • will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
  • be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;
  • be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;
  • be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.

Teaching Information

Two seminar hours per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours).

Assessment Information

One of the following:

a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)

b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)

c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent)

d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each)

e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%)

Reading and References

To be purchased and read before the semester:

Ernst, Peter. 2005. Deutsche Sprachgeschichte. UTB.

Horan, Geraldine et al. (eds.). 2009. Landmarks in the History of German. Oxford: Peter Lang.

Related links