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18896-01 - Seminar: English in America (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2007 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Miriam Locher (miriam.locher@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The subject of this course is the study of the sociology of English in America. We will start with overview sessions on the spread of English and then we will move to the question of how varieties of English are studied in linguistics. After these theoretical sessions, we will focus on English in America as one particular field of research. We will not only be concerned with what is considered standard General American, but also with African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Chicano English and further more local varieties of English spoken on the North American continent. Next to contemplating the microlinguistic levels of the description of American English varieties, we will also consider cultural, sociological and historical influences on their development. Students will participate in workshops and are responsible for brief input presentations, as well as small written assignments. |
| Learning objectives | At the end of this course, students should have a solid understanding of the spread and development of English varieties in North America. |
| Bibliography | In addition to papers that will be made available in the virtual classroom OLAT, we will draw on chapters from the following two books (on reserve in the library): Tottie, Gunnel (2002). "An Introduction to American English": Blackwell. Wolfram, Walt and Natalie Schilling-Estes (2006). "American English" (2nd Ed.). Oxford: Blackwell. |
| Admission requirements | This course is open to MA students. Liz students should have completed their basic studies in the Liz programme. |
| Course application | Please register on OLAT by 1 August, 2007: https://www.olat.unizh.ch/olat/auth/repo/go?rid=618397704&par=74931827896123. If you dont feel like typing this in, go to www.olat.unizh.ch, log in with your Basel account details, and then look for my course English in America. If you encounter any problems, please contact me (locher[a]ens.unibe.ch) and I will give you further instructions. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul English Sociolinguistics & Cognitive Linguistics (Master's degree subject: English) Modul Sprachen in Zeit und Raum (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation in class, participation in the organization of a workshop, a brief input presentation, and a written assignment. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Englisches Seminar |