Language variation and change

3 ECTS credits
75 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1024331BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Linguistics and Literary Studies

Educational team

Wim Vandenbussche (course titular)
Ludovic De Cuypere

Activities and contact hours

22 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course offers students a thorough overview of variation between languages and language families, of the kinds of language change that leads to language variation, and of the different manifestations of language internal variation. The course emphasizes terminology rather than theory and presents a broad conceptual framework, which is amply illustrated with examples from different languages.

The course starts from a macrolevel perspective and gives a broad overview of the world's languages, introducing students to language typological similarities within the universal phonological and morpho-syntactic diversity. We then look at different instances of semantic and formal language change. A third section deals with internal language variation. We see how social and regional variation, but also context, register and style, may act as an expression of the speaker's linguistic identity.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) :

Additional info

This course is taught in English; examples may be given from all languages offered in the Linguistics and Literary Studies programme.

Digital course materials will be made available via the electronic platform.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The student recognize and appreciate language variation between and within languages

define, illustrate and apply the appropriate terminology associated with linguistic typology (variation and similarities between)
define, illustrate and apply the appropriate terminology associated with language change.
define, illustrate and apply the appropriate terminology associated with language internal variation

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Examen Schriftelijk with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Details on the exam will be provided via Canvas before the start of the course.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context