Module Identifier GEM0630  
Module Title PROPER GERMAN?: LINGUISTIC NORMS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS THEM  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Winifred V Davies  
Semester Semester 1  
Pre-Requisite Normally a 2, 1 degree in German Studies  
Co-Requisite GEM0130 , GEM0230  
Course delivery Lecture    
  Seminars / Tutorials    
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Seminar Presentation: Lead 2 seminars25%
Semester Assessment Essay: 1 x 5000 word essay  75%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of essay  100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, student should be able to
1.   demonstrate that they have acquired a knowledge and understanding of the major theoretical issues raised during the module.
2. discuss critically the debates surrounding issues of language and power.

Brief description

1.   To consider in depth the nature of linguistic and socio-linguistic norms of German and the mechanisms by which they are created and maintained.
2.   To familiarise students with sociolinguistic debates relating to the above topic.
3.   To introduce students to theoretical issues relating to the above topic (e.g. situative appropriacy, difference and deficit, power and solidarity)
4.   To encourage student to engage with issues of language and power.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Wimmer, R (ed) Sprachkultur (=Jahrbuch 1984 des Instituts fur deutsche Sprache). Dusseldorf: Schwann
Cameron, D (1995) Verbal Hygiene London, New York: Routledge
Davies, W V (1995) Linguistic Variation and Language Attitudes in Mannheim-Neckarau Stuttgart: Franz Steiner
Davies, W V (2000) A critique of some common assumptions in German work on language and education, Hall, C & D Rock. Proceedings of the 62nd Conference of University Teachers of German 1999. Bern, Frankfurt: Peter Lang, pp. 207-22
Debus, F et al (1986) Sprachliche Normen und Normierungsfolgen in der DDER (Germanistische Linguistik 82-83, 1985) Hildesheim, Zurich, New York: Olms Verlag
Durrell, M (1999) Standardsprache in England und Deutschland Zeitschrift fur germanistische Linguistik 27: 285-308
Fairclough, N (1992) Critical Language Awareness. London, New York: Longman
Leisi I/ Leisi E (1993) Sprach-Knigge Gunter Narr Verlag
Mattheier, K et al (1993) Vielfalt des Deutschen. Festschrift fur Werner Besch. Peter Lang: Frankfurt am Main, etc
Milroy, J; Milroy, L Authority in Language: Investigating language prescription and standardisation 2nd. London: Routledge
Mittelstrasse, J (1989) Wohin geht die Sprache? Hanns-Martin Schleyer-Stiftung
Niedzielski, N A/Preston, D R (2000) Folk Linguistics de Gruyter: Berlin, New York
Ammon, U Aspects of dialect and school in the Federal Republic of Germany. In Cheshire J. et al., Dialect and Education: Some European perspectives. Clevedon, Philadelphia, Adelaide: Multilingual Matters, pp. 113-38
Blommaert, J (ed) (1999) Language Ideological Debates Berlin, New York: Moputon de Gruyter
Bourdieu, P (1991) Language and Symbolic Power. Edited and introduced by John B Thompson Cambridge: Polity Press
Ryan, E B Why do low-prestige language varieties persist? In H Giles & R N St. Clair (eds) Language and Social Psychology Oxford: Blackwell
Stemmler, T (1999) Stemmlers kleine Stillehre. Insel Verlag
Trabold, A/Frank-Cyrus, K (1999) Forderung der Sprachkultur in Deutschland. Gesellschaft fur deutsche Sprache
von Polenz, P (1999) Deutsche Sprachgeschichte vom Spatmittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. Bd III: 19 and 20. Jahrundert. Berlin: de gruyter
Wardhaugh, R (1999) Proper English. Oxford: Blackwell

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7