General provisions

The course is given as a free-standing course and as an optional course in the Master programme in Languages

Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree with a language subject as the main field of study.

Learning outcomes

For the grade Pass, after completing the course the student should be able to

• critically discuss and describe language contact,
• critically discuss and describe multilingualism and its relation to language change,
• define borrowing, code-switching, code-mixing, diglossia, pidgin and creole languages, language death,
• describe the differences between internally and externally motivated language change.

The student should also be able to name, account for and critically discuss at least two theoretical models of contact-induced language change based on empirical materials.

Content

The course aims to provide an in-depth overview of language contact, multilingualism and the types of language change that can occur through language contact. This is done by discussing concepts such as multilingualism (short- and long-term multilingualism and its impact on language, general patterns of how language systems influence each other from the point of view of language, the individual and society), borrowing, code-switching, diglossia and code-mixing, pidgin and creole languages, language death. In addition, the course provides insight into some theoretical models of language contact and language change. As a basis for this study, we will use a number of case studies of language contact and multilingualism in Africa and South Asia.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, discussions and assessment. The student's own learning activities are of crucial importance for the work on the course.

Assessment

Examination is in the form of continuous oral and written assignments. Directives regarding these assignements are made available at the beginning of the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.