Language and Society in German-Speaking World

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• evaluate arguments in the relevant German secondary literature;
• make connections between what you read about German contexts and your own experience as a learner of German;
• identify and describe examples of key sociolinguistic concepts in relation to contemporary German;
• analyse primary data (e.g. written texts, interview transcripts);

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• plan and prepare individual and joint seminar presentations;
• produce writing in appropriate genres and to required conventions, including referencing and identification;
• work effectively alone and in collaboration with others to solve problems and/or carry out a task

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the status of German as an international language;
• public debates on language issues in Germany.
• multilingualism in German-speaking countries;
• language and national identities in German-speaking countries;
• linguistic and sociolinguistic consequences of contact between German and other languages;

The first part of the course considers the position of German in the world: the importance of the geo-political position of the German-speaking countries in the centre of Europe and the status of German as an international language. The second part explores social, linguistic and political consequences of multilingualism in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The final part focuses on language change and public attitudes towards language use in German-speaking countries.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching method:

• 1 weekly double seminar

Learning activities include

• doing specified reading tasks;
• preparing individual and joint presentations;
• conducting online and library research.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Stevenson, P.; Horner, K.;Langer;N.;Reershemius, G. (2018). The German-speaking world: a practical introduction to sociolinguistic issues . London : Routledge/Taylor&Francis.

Barbour, S. & Carmichael, C. (eds) (2000). Language and Nationalism in Europe.

Ammon, U (2019). The position of the German language in the world. London: Routledge.

Johnson, S.; Braber, N. (2008). Exploring the German Language. Asser Press.

Rash, F (1998). The German Language in Switzerland.

Horner, K.; Weber, J.-J. (2017). Introducing Multilingualism : A Social Approach. Taylor & Francis .

Assessment strategy

1 essay and 1 empirical task

The empirical task is conducted in small groups of 3-4 students. The assessment is in 2 parts: (a) a group oral presentation with a single, common mark awarded to the whole group; (b) an individual written report , with each member of the group submitting their own report and receiving an individual mark.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External