
Apply through UCAS
- UCAS course code
- QQ61
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Language Contact
Unit code | LELA30291 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Offered by | Linguistics & English Language |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This module provides an introduction to the study of language contact both as a process (the processing of different languages by multilingual individuals) and as a result (observed language change over time as a result of multilingual language use). Both aspects will be discussed on the basis of a range of case studies involving languages from around the world and different scenarios of multilingualism, covering phenomena such as code-switching, lexical and grammatical borrowing, and calquing (i.e. loan translation or "pattern borrowing"). We will also discuss the emergence of new languages - mixed languages and creole languages - as a result of language contact.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
English Word and Sentence Structure | LELA10301 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
At least one unit out of:
- LELA20021 Analysing Grammar;
- LELA20101 Societal Multilingualism;
- LELA20032 Typology;
- LELA20401 Changing English Language;
- LELA20962 Psycholinguistics–or comparable
Aims
Students will:
- obtain an overview of processes of contact-induced historical language change
- get an insight into the debate surrounding the formation of new languages due to language contact
- be able to describe the relationship between multilingual language use and contact-induced language change
- critically reflect on the concept of “language” as a delimited system
- learn to analyse relevant aspects of the phonology, grammar and semantics of a range of languages, including non-European ones
Knowledge and understanding
Students will
- be able to define some key conceptual notions in language contact such as “borrowing”,“code-switching”, and “creole genesis”
- link historical processes of contact-induced change to the processing of multiple languages by multilingual speakers
- apply these concepts to data from familiar and unfamiliar languages
Intellectual skills
- identifying key points in published research papers on different subtopics
- critical evaluation of the evidence and sources of data underlying theoretical claims
- identifying conceptual links between synchronic and diachronic phenomena
Practical skills
- analysis of multilingual conversations
- use of glosses and translations to analyse structures of unfamiliar languages
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- interpreting and evaluating data presented in different formats, e.g. graphs, tables, sets of linguistic examples
- confidence in spoken and written discussion and argumentation
- providing explicit evidence and precise argumentation in written work
- increased appreciation of linguistic and cultural diversity
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Considerable emphasis will be placed on the interpretation and critical evaluation of data presented in various formats, e.g. graphs, tables, and sets of linguistic examples.
- Research
- The course content encourages students to critically reflect upon the world outside the university thereby providing confidence to use academic research in a variety of settings.
- Written communication
- The course will also provide key skills in critical analysis and in the dissemination of information to different audiences and therefore be of value for a range of career paths.
- Other
- The course will have particular benefits for any student interested in pursuing a career which involves teaching and learning, diversity management, intercultural communication and community cohesion.
Assessment methods
Contribution (as group work) to one student-led discussion during a seminar, offering a critical analysis of a published research paper, with visual aids. | 10% |
Annotated outline and preliminary bibliography for main coursework. | 10% |
Main coursework: review essay of two original research studies on any topic covered during the course | 80% |
Feedback methods
Feedback method | Formative or Summative |
Feedback on contributions during seminars | Formative |
Written feedback via Turnitin on outline of main assignment | Formative and Summative |
Written feedback via Turnitin on main assignment | Summative |
Additional one-to-one feedback during consultation hours | Formative |
Recommended reading
- Bhatia, Tej K. & William C. Ritchie (eds.) 2013. The Handbook of Bilingualism and Multilingualism, Second Edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Hickey, Raymond (ed.) 2010. The Handbook of Language Contact. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Matras, Yaron. 2009. Language contact. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Winford, Donald. 2003. An introduction to contact linguistics. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Wei, Li. ed. 2000. The bilingualism reader. London: Routledge.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 16.5 |
Seminars | 16 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 167.5 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Eva Schultze-Berndt | Unit coordinator |