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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: GER3022 Module Title: VARIETIES OF GERMAN
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: GER3022
Level: HE3 Module Co-ordinator: SALLER C Ms (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 10 Number of ECTS credits: 5
 
Module Availability

Semester 2
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
In-class presentation
40%
2,500 word essay
60%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate of 40% is required to pass the module

Module Overview
This module focusses on varieties of German from a sociolinguistic perspective, following their historical and socio-political development. It examines the interaction of German and other languages in situations of language contact, and it considers the status of different varieties of German within the German-speaking countries today.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Completion of Level 2 German modules, or equivalent.
Module Aims
In this module, students will: 
  • gain insight into regional varieties of German and their historical and socio-political development, and gain an understanding of the correlation between regional and national (standard) varieties and national identities;
  • practice how to apply sociolinguistic methodology to German;
  • analyse and interpret a range of oral and written linguistic data and present the results in an appropriate written and oral form;
  • compare and contrast situations of language contact in the German-speaking world and present the results in an appropriate written or oral form.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the students will:
 
Knowledge and understanding
  • have gained insight into the historical development of the German language;
  • understand the historical and socio-political dimensions of German as a pluricentric language, and the emergence of the German standard varieties, including the institutions representing them (DACH-Verbände); 
  • understand the correlation between regional varieties and regional identities, and the issue of ‘national’ standards and identities; 
  • be able to compare and contrast language-contact situations in the German-speaking world.
 
Cognitive skills
  • be able to use and apply sociolinguistic terms to describe and discuss the varieties of the German language;
  • be able to analyse and evaluate language-contact situations using a range of theories, interpretations and arguments.
 
Key skills
Communication
  • be able to present findings and ideas on sociolinguistic phenomena in writing;
  • be competent in oral presentations and discussions in German;
  • be competent in analysing and evaluating oral and written speech from a sociolinguistic perspective;
  • be able to understand different varieties of German;
  • be able to speak and write in an appropriate register in German.
Independent study
  • be able to study and learn independently.
Research
  • be able to undertake basic independent research into related areas using appropriate methodologies.
Group work
  • be able to give peer feedback effectively and work collaboratively.
Reflection on own and peer learning
be able to evaluate self and peer learning and progression, through self and peer assessment of performance.
Module Content
Introduction:
  • German as a pluricentric language
  • Overview of sociolinguistic terms involved
History and evolution of the German language:
  • Germanic Languages
  • Grimm’s Law and sound shifts
  • Old, Middle, and New High German
  • Emergence and understanding of ‘modern’ German

Regional varieties of German:

  • Historical dialect borders and border shifts
  • Regional varieties and their status
German language varieties in their socio-political context:  
  • Standardisation and the existing German standard varieties
  • Diglossia
  • Language policies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Methods of Teaching/Learning
Two contact hours per teaching week in semester 1 or 2. The module is taught entirely in the target language. Student participation is essential.
Learning will occur through a combination of lectures, background reading, and preparation of and participation in class discussions.
Selected Texts/Journals
Essential Reading
 
A selection of texts and articles will be provided by the module tutor.
 
Recommended Reading
 
Ammon, Ulrich (1991) Die internationale Stellung der deutschen Sprache. Berlin, New York: de Gruyter.
 
Ammon, Ulrich (1995) Die deutsche Sprache in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Berlin: de Gruyter.
 
Clyne, Michael (ed.) (1992) Pluricentric Languages. Differing Norms in Different Nations. Berlin, New York: de Gruyter.
 
Clyne, Michael (ed.) (1995) The German Language in a Changing Europe. Cambridge: CUP.
Heringer, Hans Jürgen; Samson, Gunhild; Kauffmann, Michel; Bader, Wolfgang (eds.) (1994) endenzen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache. Tübingen: Niemeyer.
Stedje, Astrid (1989) Deutsche Sprache gestern und heute. München: Fink.
Wodak, Ruth; De Cillia, Rudolf; Reisigl, Martin; Liebhart, Karin (2009) The discursive construction of national identities (2nd edition). Edinburgh University Press.
Wolff, Gerhart (1999) Deutsche Sprachgeschichte. Ein Studienbuch (4th edition). Tübingen, Basel: Francke (UTB 1581)
Austria
De Cillia, Rudolf (1998) Burenwurscht bleibt Burenwurscht. Sprachenpolitik und gesellschaftliche Mehrsprachigkeit in Österreich. Klagenfurt/ Celovec: Drava.
Muhr, Rudolf (ed.) (1993) Internationale Arbeiten zum österreichischen Deutsch und seinen nachbarschaftlichen Bezügen. Wien: Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky.
Muhr, Rudolf; Schrodt, Richard; Wiesinger, Peter (eds.) (1995) Österreichisches Deutsch. Linguistische, sozialpsychologische und sprachpolitische Aspekte einer nationalen Variante des Deutschen. Wien: Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky.
Germany
Dittmar, Norbert; Schlobinski, Peter; Wachs, Inge (1986) Berlinisch. Berlin: Arno Spitz.
Ivo, Herbert (1994) Muttersprache - Identität - Nation: Sprachliche Bildung im Spannungsfeld zwischen einheimisch und fremd. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Reiher, Ruth; Baumann, Antje (eds.) (2000) Mit gespaltener Zunge? Die deutsche Sprache nach dem Fall der Mauer. Berlin: Aufbau (Aufbau-Taschenbücher 8055).
Switzerland
Rash, Felicity (2002) Die deutsche Sprache in der Schweiz. Mehrsprachigkeit, Diglossie und Veränderung. Bern: Peter Lang (294).
 
Background Reading
 
Ammon, Ulrich et al. (2004) Variantenwörterbuch des Deutschen. Die Standardsprache in Österreich, der Schweiz und Deutschland sowie in Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Ostbelgien und Südtirol. Berlin: de Gruyter.
Glück, Helmut (ed.) (2005) Metzler Lexikon Sprache (3rd edition). Stuttgart, Weimar: Metzler
Haß-Zumkehr, Ulrike (2001) Deutsche Wörterbücher. Brennpunkt von Sprach- und Kulturgeschichte. Berlin, New York: de Gruyter.
Löffler, Heinrich (2005) Germanistische Soziolinguistik (3rd edition). Berlin: Erich Schmidt (Grundlagen der Germanistik, 28).
Kluge, Friedrich (2002) Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (24th edition). Berlin, New York 1995 (reprint 1999).
König, Werner (2005) dtv-Atlas zur deutschen Sprache. München: dtv.
Last Updated
24.5.10