This course is aimed to illustrate the development and diversification of the English language in English varieties. It is also intended to shed light on the factors that determined the emergence of Englishes.
“World Englishes: the spread of English around the globe”
This course is aimed to investigate the global spread of the English language with a focus on the notions of linguistic variation and standard language. To steer through the manifold facets of the English language, we will first of all discuss some of the attempts to categorize different varieties of English. We will also question the concept of native speaker and provide a possible synthesis of classification. Having set the theoretical frame, we will then explore linguistic and socio-historical characteristics of different varieties among the following main types:
- Dialects of English on the British Isles and in the USA
- Major contact varieties (English based Pidgin and Creole languages, contact between English and minority languages)
- Varieties of English as a second language and official language (e.g. Indian English, Singapore English, etc.)
- English as a global voice
Basic readings:
Crystal, David. 2003. English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schneider, Edgar W. 2007. Postcolonial English. Varieties around the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (chs. 1- 4)
Seargeant, Philip and Joan Swann. 2012. English in the World: History, Diversity, Change. London: Routledge.
Siemund, Peter, Davydova, Julia and Georg Maier. 2012. The Amazing World of Englishes. Berlin/New York: Mouton De Gruyter
For consultation:
McArthur, Tom. 2002. The Oxford Guide to World English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kortmann, Bernd, Schneider, Edgar et al. 2005. A Handbook of Varieties of English. Berlin: Mouton De Gruyter.
Further information on relevant literature will be provided at the beginning of the course.
The course will be held in English.
Oral exam in English. For the exam students will be asked to present a small research project.
