230152 The Ideology of Standard English: Language Teaching and Usage (BS) (SoSe 2015)

What is Standard English? What role does codification play? Is prescriptive language re-search performative in that it establishes the rules for Standard English? Or is Standard English a natural variety whose codification is the result of descriptive language study?

In this seminar we will investigate the following questions:

• Is there only one Standard English?
• Can speakers choose from a set, or are they bound to use a certain Standard English, depending on their personal background?
• Can the idea of norm-providing native varieties, norm-developing nativised, and norm-dependent non-native varieties be maintained?
• What standards are applied at German schools and elsewhere?
• What role do the expectations of interlocutors play?

In this seminar we will shed some light on the term Standard English and its implementa-tion in language teaching. In our first meeting, we will collect existing knowledge and have a first look at common perspectives on Standard English. In the first block, you will present articles, controversies, and perspectives in detail and develop research questions and hy-potheses. The second block will be organized as a conference where you present and dis-cuss papers examining the research questions and hypotheses established in the first block.

Requirements for participation, required level

• In order to partake in this seminar, you need to have completed the Basic Modules.
• Registration for the class on StudIP
• A very small number of students may take this course as a substitute for How to Make a Dictionary (BM2.3) - you must contact the lecturer before April 7

Bibliography

A comprehensive bibliography is available on StudIP.
There is a reserved reading shelf in the library as well as essential reading on StudIP.