OVERVIEW

GERMAN SOCIOLINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGE CONTACT

The course is a 9-credits-course  consisting  of

- a theoretical module of 30 hours (held in the 2nd semester) dealing with the history of German linguistics from the beginning to the recent theories;

- an applied module of 160 hours dedicated to the expanding and deeping of oral and written competence in the German language.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

- learning target of the class is to reach the C1.1 level (1st year) resp. C1.2 level (2nd year) in German language described in the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR).

- target of the theoretical module is to familiarize students with general knowledge about  language variation and recent tendencies of contemporary German language.

- a further target of the theoretical module is a more profound study of some essential language varieties used in German speaking areas, as well as of contact linguistics applied on German language and general sociolinguistics.

- target of the practical language exercises is the acquisition of active and passive linguistic facilities in German and of competence in oral and written communication as requested in the guidelines for C1.1/C1.2 level of the CEF.

- After a successful participation in the theory class students will have a good command of the different language varieties of contemporary German language

- Having participated successfully in the theory class students will be able to operate identification, classification and analysis of synchronic linguistic varieties of recent German and be familiar with research methods in German sociolinguistics and language contact linguistics.

PREREQUISITES

Language level B2 (1st year) / C1.1 (2nd year) in German language is required for participation.

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lectures (30 lessons, 2nd semester) will be accompanied during the whole academic year by practical language exercises (80 lessons, yearlong). The theory lectures and the language classes begin in September 2020; the theory lecture starts in the 2nd semester (February 2021); time schedules, programs, instructors and auditoriums will be published in Aulaweb and will be announced on the websites of the single instructors at the end of September 2020. The language exercises include yearlong lessons in translation (40).

Lecture accompanied by language exercises. The theory lectures and the practical language exercises will be offered in winter term in distant learning modality through Teams and Aulaweb platforms (see informations in Aulaweb). Subject to eventual provisions regarding the development of the sanitary situation, during spring term the lectures will take place in form of traditional classroom teaching.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the theory class students will familiarize with fundamental knowledge about recent tendencies and developments of contemporary German language. Issues treated and debated in the theory module are German sociolinguistics, variations of German language and the influence of contact languages. During the lessons various examples of language varieties and special languages will be analyzed and discussed, as well as theoretical aspects of language contact linguistics.

The practical language exercises which include translation exercises will bring the students from B2 level to C1.1 level (1st year) and from C1.1 level to C1.2 level (2nd year) according to the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEF).

The program of the course is valid until February 2022 in accordance to the departmental regulation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

T

Theoretical module

• Andresen, Melanie / Zinsmeister, Heike: Korpuslinguistik, Tübingen: Narr, 2019.
• Braun, Peter: Tendenzen in der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, Stuttgart/Berlin/Köln: Kohlhammer, 19984.
• Löffler, Heinrich: Germanistische Soziolinguistik, Berlin: Erich Schmidt, 2016.
• Moraldo, Sandro M.: Deutsch aktuell. Einführung in die Tendenzen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache 2, Roma: Carocci, 2011.
• Riehl, Claudia Maria: Sprachkontaktforschung. Eine Einführung, Tübingen: Narr, 2009.
• Scherer, Carmen: Korpuslinguistik, Heidelberg: Winter, 2006.
• Sinner, Carsten: Varietätenlinguistik: Eine Einführung, Tübingen: Narr, 2013.

Applied module

Will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

JOACHIM HANS BERND GERDES (President)

SIMONA LEONARDI

SERENA SPAZZARINI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Theoretical module: 30 hours, 2nd semester (February 2021)

Applied modules: 1st + 2nd semester:  06 october 2020

Schedule: see Aulaweb and website www.lingue.unige.it

Class schedule

GERMAN LANGUAGE I

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Theory class:

written exam (50% del final mark)

Language exercises:

1st year

written exam (essay writing) +

written translation exam (German-Italian)+

oral exam

2nd year

written exam (essay writing) +

oral exam

(average of the marks of the exercise exams: 50% of the final mark)

Attention: The modalities of the exams can be changed because of adjustments due to anti-covid security measures.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theory lessons will be concluded by an oral exam in which the arguments treated during the class will be asked about. The languages classes will be completed by written exams and an oral exam. During the oral exam at the end of the theory class the students have to provide evidence of their profound knowledge of the arguments dealt with during the lessons, the designed texts and the materials published in Aulaweb.

Inscription for the exams on the homepage of the University of Genoa (www.unige.it) at the link „servizi online per gli studenti“.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group

The exam is obligatory for students in the first and in the second year of the master course in "Modern Languages and Literatures for cultural Services" LM 37/38

Credits

The total exam consisting in theory class and language exercises is equivalent to 9 credit points.

Languages

Lessons will be held in German language.