OVERVIEW

German Sociolinguistics and Varieties of the contemporary German language

The course is a 9-credits-course  consisting  of

• a theoretical module (30 h, held in the 2nd semester) dealing with language change and variation in contermporary German;
• language courses (160 h), whose aim is to develop oral and written competence in the German language.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module intends to

• provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools to analyze the German language in its complexity and variety;
• bring students to the C1.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

-Basic objective oft the class (theory module) is to familiarize the students with theories and methods of sociolinguistic of the contemporary German language.

- 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).

- The objective of the course (theory module) is to provide students with a general understanding of linguistic change regarding recent developments in the German language.

- The objective of the course (theory module) is furthermore to introduce the topic of the contrast between oral and written German language and the current informalization of standard German.

- 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 successful participation (theory module), students will have advanced knowledge about linguistic change and various categories of linguistic variation in modern German language.

- At the end of the course (theory module), students have acquired the linguistic competence to identify, categorize and analyze the differences between the written and oral registers of contemporary German and have knowledge about diachronic lexicology of contemporary German.

PREREQUISITES

Language level B2 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 October 2023; the theory lectures start in the 2nd semester (February 2024); 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 2023. The language exercises include yearlong lessons in translation (40).

Lecture accompanied by language exercises. The theory lectures and the practical language exercises will take place in form of traditional classroom teaching. Modifications subject to eventual provisions regarding the development of the sanitary situation will be announced in Aulaweb (Lingua tedesca 1 - LM37/38).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the theory class students will familiarize with various aspects of German sociolinguistics, as for example theories and research methods, social factors of linguistic variation (social and regional origins, gender, generation, social affiliation, migration, bi- and multilingualism etc.) and their impact on language use, especially regarding contemporary German language. Argument of the course will be furthermore the phenomenon of general linguistic change in recent German language with special emphasis on lexical change. Contrasts between oral and written language as well as lexical innovation will be analyzed. In the class the special features of spoken German and its effects on standard language will be examined and discussed; examples of neologisms in different registers and in selected text types are issues of the class.

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

The program of the course is valid until February 2025 in accordance to the departmental regulation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Modulo teorico / Theoriemodul / Theoretical module

• Andresen, Melanie / Zinsmeister, Heike: Korpuslinguistik, Tübingen: Narr, 2019.
• Braun, Peter: Tendenzen in der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, Stuttgart/Berlin/Köln: Kohlhammer, 19984.
• Elsen, Hilke: Neologismen, Tübingen: Narr, 2022.
• Foschi, Marina / Costa, Marcella (2017): Grammatica del tedesco parlato, Pisa: Pisa University Press.
• Graf, Peter: Was nicht mehr im Duden steht. Eine Sprach- und Kulturgeschichte, Berlin: Duden-Verlag, 2019.
• Keller, Rudi: Sprachwandel. Von der unsichtbaren Hand der Sprache, Tübingen: Francke/UTB 2016.
• Moraldo, Sandro M.: Deutsch aktuell. Einführung in die Tendenzen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache 2, Roma: Carocci, 2011.
• Neuland, Eva: Soziolinguistik der deutschen Sprache. Tübingen: Narr/Francke/Attempto/UTB, 2018.
• Schwitalla, Johannes: Gesprochenes Deutsch. Eine Einführung, Berlin: Erich Schmidt, 2003.

Further bibliographical and didactic material will be provided during the semester (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 2025). 

Language learning modules: 1st + 2nd semester: 02 October, 2023, h 17.00, aula F

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

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

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 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.

Language: 

• Theory class: Lessons will be held mainly in Italian.
• Language learning courses: Lessons will be held mainly in German.

Students with certified special educational needs (DSA)
Students with certified special educational needs (DSA), such as dyslexia or dysgraphia, are invited to contact the lecturers, as well as to familiarise with the services (e.g. “ufficio disabilità  e DSA”) the University provides to support them.