16831
Seminar
WiSe 23/24: Multilingual practices
Ferdinand von Mengden
Kommentar
Virtually all major linguistic schools and sub-disciplines describe language in an idealized state: external conditions of communication, social and regional variation, language change and other factors are to a large extent marginalized in linguistic description. One of these idealizing assumptions which is often implicit in linguistic descriptions is that whenever we communicate there is only one language involved. Yet, this is hardly ever the case. Although one language may usually be predominant, there are various ways in which one or more other languages may be involved in one and the same communication.
Even what looks superficially like a monolingual communication includes elements that were at some point borrowed from other languages. Moreover, communication can be carried out in more than one language at the same time, as for instance code switching, translanguaging and other multilingual practices. Likewise, grammatical patterns replicate across spaces and groups of speakers. Lingua francas are a widespread means of communication across human societies and, whenever they are not available, pidgin communication can emerge from scratch.
This (incomplete) list of examples of multilingual settings appears even more complex when we consider which of these usages are easily recognized and which remain hidden. Language ideologies can influence our awareness of some of these scenarios. The use of English in business contexts or on the internet is not only visible but also highly accepted and prestigious. Particularly urban spaces reveal a higher degree of linguistic diversity. But multilingual practices are not absent in less visible or less prestigious spaces. They can be visible but at the same time discouraged or marginalized (e.g., migrant minorities). Yet others can be completely invisible to the point that their use or existence are denied.
The aim of this class is to take stock of the various ways of non-monolingual linguistic activity and to assess the ideologies behind the underlying language attitudes, the socio-economic values and the politics which accompany non-monolingual features or repertoires.
The seminar starts in the first week of term. Students who are interested in the class but cannot come in the first week are kindly asked to notify me via email before the start of the lecture period. Schließen
16 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung
Mo, 16.10.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 23.10.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 30.10.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 06.11.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 13.11.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 20.11.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 27.11.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 04.12.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 11.12.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 18.12.2023 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 08.01.2024 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 15.01.2024 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 22.01.2024 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 29.01.2024 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 05.02.2024 14:00 - 16:00
Mo, 12.02.2024 14:00 - 16:00