230126 Language Diversity in North America (BS) (WiSe 2019/2020)

This blockseminar will examine the grammatical, phonological and semantic particularities of varieties of English that (co-)exist in North America. We will begin with a diachronic perspective before dealing with socio-cultural and politico-historical issues that have shaped the landscape of English in Canada and the United States of America. The varieties we will focus on will include General American, Standard Canadian, Chicano English, AAVE, Gullah, Appalachian as well as varieties such as Cree and Chiac.

Assessment will contain but not be limited to:

20% - regular attendance
30% - active participation in class (asking questions based on course content, analyses of texts assigned)
50% - Assignment (ex. short presentation or critical review of article during the seminar)