Languages shift and change over time, and while much of this is due to new innovations by speakers, languages can also change due to contact with other languages. Throughout the course, we will examine various situations of contact and how the sociocultural factors shape the languages. We will examine English’s own history of contact, particularly with the French language, and we will study how new languages, called creoles, arise as a result of contact between many different peoples. We will close the course with a broader discussion of what contact in a globalized world means for the future of the world’s languages.
Learning Outcomes:
• Be able to analyze the sociocultural factors that influence the nature of language contact and how these shape language
• Understand the linguistic features that can change as a result of contact with other languages
• Understand how and why new languages can form as a result of language contact
• Navigate the world with a heightened understanding of language contact and the role of English in shaping a globalized world
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
W 4:10PM - 6:00PM & Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: 2000 , All courses , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Linguistics , Sociolinguistics
Tags: language , language endangerment , linguistics , sociolinguistics