230021 Dialect Birth and Dialect Divergence (S) (WiSe 2026/2027)

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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.

Bibliography

Readings will be made available on moodle.

Teaching staff

Dates ( Calendar view )

Frequency Weekday Time Format / Place Period  
weekly Do 16-18   12.10.2026-05.02.2027

Subject assignments

Module Course Requirements  
23-ANG-M-AngHM1_IAS Language and the Processes of Culture Sprachliche Dynamik Study requirement
Student information
- Graded examination Student information
23-ANG-M-GM3 Grundmodul 3: Contact Zones and Intercultural Studies Languages in Contact Study requirement
Student information
- Graded examination Student information
23-LIN-MaDYK Language Dynamics, Interaction and Cognition Lehrveranstaltung 1 Study requirement
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Lehrveranstaltung 2 Study requirement
Student information

The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.

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.

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Limited number of participants: 30
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WS2026_230021@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de
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Last update basic details/teaching staff:
Friday, July 10, 2026 
Last update times:
Friday, April 10, 2026 
Last update rooms:
Friday, April 10, 2026 
Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester)
seminar (S) / 2
Language
This lecture is taught in english
Department
Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies
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709884842