Winter term 2016/17 Dr.

Nuria Hernndez y Siebold

TUE 10-12, R12 R06 A69 http://www.uni-due.de/ anglistik/
WED 10-12, R12 R03 A69 linguistics/linguistics3

Introduction to Dialectology
Mod. G, Ga (LABA) + VIII/2 (2BA, KUWI)

This seminar offers an introduction to the linguistic field of dialectology and the different varieties of
English that are currently in use in the Anglophone world. As a sub-field of sociolinguistics, the study
of dialects is concerned with language variation, especially the geographic distribution of linguistic
features which differ from Standard English. We will discuss central issues such as the difference
between dialect, accent and language, the treatment of language minorities, or the social
implications of using a certain variety in everyday speech. We will look at different methods of data
collection, the work of renowned variational linguists, and some major dialect projects. Finally, you
will also get some hands-on experience with dialect recordings and transcripts. The course is open to
all students who have successfully completed Modules A/II and C/III.
Preparatory reading: J. K. Chambers and Peter Trudgill. 1980. Dialectology. CUP.

Course objectives
The aim of this class is to ...
provide an introduction to dialectology, including basic and advanced terminology and concepts;
practice different methods of data collection in order to analyse linguistic variation at different
levels of language;
enable students to read and discuss other studies critically and conduct their own empirical
analyses;
develop a distinct feeling and sense for the relationship between the standard variety of a language
and its dialects; in the Anglophone context, how and why regional standards arose and how
countries, which are now independent, developed standards of their own.

Assessment:
2 CPs (= 60 hours, 2 hours weekly seminar + 2 hours weekly preparation) + Modulprfung
(1) Regular attendance and active participation (max. 3 absences): readings, discussions, team work
(2) Glossary entries, optional presentations, essays, etc.

Moodle
https://moodle2.uni-due.de/ : Dialectology 2016
register with your Unikennung + password Isogloss

Semesterapparat UB shelf: English Varieties, no. 228

Term papers
It is important that you like your topic; choose it wisely. In this particular seminar, all papers should
include an empirical analysis of linguistic features and/or a theoretical discussion of variational
frameworks. You can write about a dialect feature or a particular variety.
Linguistics Style Sheet: https://www.uni-due.de/anglistik/linguistics/academicpapers_and_exams.shtml
Syllabus (subject to alterations)

Date Topic Tasks for the session*

TUE/WED (read thoroughly and critically; note down
questions; prepare for in-class discussion)

W1 OCT 25/26 Meet and greet, formalities, syllabus ---

Mutual expectations
W2 NOV --/02 Free discussion Discussion Sheet, no. 13
Tuesday: send to NH
Wednesday: bring to class
Discussion Sheet, 2-10,12,14-20
Tuesday: discuss in Etherpad (Moodle)
Wednesday: bring notes to class
W3 NOV 08/09 Intro to dialectology Chambers & Trudgill, ch.1
First examples Dialect and Language
W4 NOV 15/16 World Englishes, models Group A: Kachru (1992) +
Kachru&Nelson (2006), ch.2
Group B: Schneider (2007), ch.3,
p.29ff
W5 NOV 22/23 Data elicitation methods I ewave-atlas.org, browse through the
Dialect atlases, isoglosses/feature bundles features
Questionnaires (international) Chambers & Trudgill, ch.2
Dialect Geography + ch. 7
Boundaries
W6 NOV 29/30 Data elicitation methods II Transcription exercise, soundfile
Interviews, Corpora, composition, annotation in Moodle
NORMs vs modern dialect speakers Optional: FRED manual on
The syntactic turn https://www.freidok.uni-
Transcription exercise
freiburg.de/data/2489
W7 DEC 06/07 no class
W8 DEC 13/14
W9 DEC 20/21 Inner circle varieties: UK and US Labov (1963)
Presentations on selected UK and US dialects
Christmas Break
W10 JAN 10/11 Englishes worldwide, postcolonial Creoles Rickford (1998)
Presentation(s) on a selected creole variety
W11 JAN 17/18 Variables, variability and change Chambers & Trudgill
Dialect Contact, Levelling, Death ch. 6 Sociolinguistic structure and
Dialect Paths, Mufwenes Feature Pool linguistic innovation + 10 Diffusion:
Scenarios: Diglossia, Bilingualism, Codeswitching Sociolinguistic and lexical + 11
Diffusion: geographical
W12 JAN 24/25 Peer exchange, remaining presentations Group work, dialect readings
W13 JAN 31 Peer exchange, remaining presentations Group work, dialect readings
FEB 01
W14 FEB 07/08 Recap, feedback, wrap-up Bring in terms and concepts,
feedback, term paper topics
weeks of registration term papers
JAN 23 and 30 > see extra office hours on NHs website
March 15 deadline term papers