Description
Language shift is the situation in which a dominant language undermines the use of a smaller one within a speech community. The community gradually shifts to speaking the more dominant language. This course examines the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and social implications of language shift.
English in particular is notorious for inhibiting the use of less dominant languages. This has happened in Scotland (Gaelic), Wales (Welsh), and, for instance, the Philippines (Spanish). In the Netherlands, Frisian and the old dialects have been affected by the dominance of Standard Dutch. In these examples, a complete shift has not always taken place, and in fact successful language maintenance and revitalisation efforts are known.
For the course, students choose a relevant country or region and do a small empirical study into the language shift situation there. Students collect new data. They could, for instance, test attitudes through a survey or listening experiment, or they could describe the use of a specific language item across generations of speakers.
Teaching method
Two-hour seminar per week.
Course objectives
describe linguistic, sociolinguistic, and/or sociological changes;
collect and process empirical data, present these data;
read sociolinguistic articles, and write a fully-fledged research paper. The coursework and the collected data could serve as the start of a sociolinguistic MA thesis.
Required reading
Articles and other material will be made available through Blackboard.
Test method
Presentations (40%), homework (20%), and research report (40%). The course can be extended to 15 ECTS through an extra paper.
Time table
The timetable will be available from June 1st on the Internet.
Information
English Department, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c. Phone: 071 527 2144, or by mail: English@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Registration
Students can register through U-twist before 15 July, After 15 July students can only register through the Departmental Office.
Blackboard
Students need to enroll in Blackboard to have access to important information such as deadlines, homework, assignments, and grades.