78675 - German Linguistics 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The global aim of this course – which includes lectures and practical language classes - is to provide students with an expert knowledge of a number of aspects of German linguistics, enabling them not only to communicate effectively in German, but also to think critically about and describe the metalinguistic factors at play in language use. This aim will be achieved by providing students with theoretical knowledge related to one or more of the following areas of German linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicology, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, stylistics and corpus linguistics. The focus of the course will be on real language use, with authentic texts (written and/ or spoken, belonging to different registers) and electronic language corpora used as examples. Language classes aim to improve students’ linguistic competence; over the two year period students’ knowledge of German should reach level C 1.2 according to the European framework in all four abilities. These classes will work in connection with the lectures to improve students’ writing skills in particular.

Course contents

The course consists of 60 hours of formal classes (lezioni frontali), 1st semester. Second year students are highly recommended to choose this course.

Please remember that this course goes together with a language learning course (esercitazioni), 2nd semester.

The subject of the course (60 hours) is “language biographies” in German. These are seen principally as a way of investigating oral and written language from several points of view, both diachronic and synchronic. The course will also look at language biographies as material capable of providing insights into the language-learning process itself. The main aim of the course is to provide students with the conceptual and methodological basis necessary for the analysis of these texts, both from the purely linguistic point of view and also as documents representative of the recent history of the German language. The course will be based on a set of examples of texts from already existing corpora. Students will also be encouraged to explore the techniques involved in constructing one's own corpus (use of methods like questionnaires and narrative interviews).

Please remember that this course goes together with a language learning course (esercitazioni) hold by Johanna Brand during the 2° semester. For further information please check the homepage of Johanna Brand and contact her (johanna.brand@unibo.it).

The final mark of the course “German Linguistics” will be the average mark between the lezioni frontali exam's result (counting three times) and the esercitazione mark.

Readings/Bibliography

Busch, Brigitta (2013): Mehrsprachigkeit, Wien (fakultas)

Franceschini, Rita (ed.). 2010. Sprache und Biographie. [Themenheft]. Zeitschrift für Literaturwissenschaft und Linguistik (LiLi) 160. 

Sansone, Santa Dania & Eva-Maria Thüne. 2008. Sprachbiographien italienischer Migranten in Deutschland. AION, Sezione germanica N.S. XVIII(1), 183–211.

Stevenson, Patrick. 2013. SprachGeschichten mit Migrationshintergrund: demografische und biografische Sprachkenntnisse und Spracherleben. In: IDS Jahrbuch 2012  "Das Deutsch der Migranten", Berlin (De Gruyter), 193-222.

Thüne, Eva-Maria. 2010. Sprachbiographien: empirisch und literarisch. In: Michaela Bürger-Koftis, Hannes Schweiger & Sandra Vlasta (Hg.), Polyphonie – Mehrsprachigkeit und literarische Kreativität. Wien: Praesens Verlag, 59–80.

Thüne, Eva-Maria & Anne Betten, Hgg. 2011. Sprache und Migration. Linguistische Fallstudien. Roma (Aracne). [LisT; 4].

Language learning course (esercitazioni di lingua)

The material follows the CEFR's theoretical and methodological principles and are suitable for university students. Further information will be given at the beginning of the language learning course.

Teaching methods

lectures and seminar classes. exercises

Assessment methods

1. Formal classes (with Prof. Thüne)  
The exam consists in two parts a. oral presentation during the course  b. written paper setting out results of the oral presentation and discussion  Both parts are equally important for the final mark. Assessment criteria: capacity of expression (completeness and accuracy of contents), coherence of presentation (oral and written) and the ability in dialogical and argumentative interaction. 
Non-attending students have to pass a written and an oral exam; further information on the official website(“Contenuti utili”).

2. Language learning course (Esercitazioni with Cel)

Further information will be given by Johanna Brand for the language learning course in the 2° semester.

The final mark of the course “German Linguistics” will be the average mark between the lezioni frontali exam's result (counting three times) and the esercitazione mark.

Teaching tools

texts, power point presentations, exercises

Links to further information

http://www.aperandosini.eu/aperandosini/home.html

Office hours

See the website of Eva-Maria Christina Charlotte Thune