English today is extremely diverse - someone from Los Angeles will sound different (and use different words) than someone from Chicago, and both will be different from someone from Birmingham, Lagos, or Manila. This is obviously well-known.
However, how a new dialect of English comes to exist is a much more difficult question. Does it only happen with long-term separation, or also when contact between varieties exists? How long does it take? How can we research this?
This class will aim to discuss - if not necessarily conclusively answer - these questions. We will cover the birth of new varieties (or divergence from existing varieties) of English in the UK, New Zealand, on remote islands, and in colonial scenarios; in settings with high contact between varieties and settings with virtually no contact with the outside world.
Readings will be made available on moodle.
| Rhythmus | Tag | Uhrzeit | Format / Ort | Zeitraum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Do | 16-18 | 12.10.2026-05.02.2027 |
| Modul | Veranstaltung | Leistungen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-ANG-M-AngHM1_IAS Language and the Processes of Culture | Sprachliche Dynamik | Studienleistung
|
Studieninformation |
| - | benotete Prüfungsleistung | Studieninformation | |
| 23-ANG-M-GM3 Grundmodul 3: Contact Zones and Intercultural Studies | Languages in Contact | Studienleistung
|
Studieninformation |
| - | benotete Prüfungsleistung | Studieninformation | |
| 23-LIN-MaDYK Language Dynamics, Interaction and Cognition | Lehrveranstaltung 1 | Studienleistung
|
Studieninformation |
| Lehrveranstaltung 2 | Studienleistung
|
Studieninformation |
Die verbindlichen Modulbeschreibungen enthalten weitere Informationen, auch zu den "Leistungen" und ihren Anforderungen. Sind mehrere "Leistungsformen" möglich, entscheiden die jeweiligen Lehrenden darüber.
I expect solid foundational knowledge of linguistics. If you have completed the BA British and American Studies here at Bielefeld University, you will have acquired this in BM3/Basis3. Students who have not had a solid introduction to linguistics in their BA programmes are strongly advised to first complete the module Grundmodul 1. Students from the Linguistics MA programme will also have acquired this during their BA.