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SoSe 19: Multilingualism

Ferdinand von Mengden

Comments

Virtually all major linguistic schools and sub-disciplines describe language in an idealized state: disturbance of communication, social and regional variation, language change and other influences are to a large extent marginalized in linguistic description. One of these idealizing assumption often implicit in linguistic descriptions is that, whenever we communicate there is only one language involved. Yet, this is hardly ever the case. Although one language may usually be predominant, there are various ways in which one or more other languages may be involved in one and the same communication. Even what looks superficially like a monolingual communication includes elements which were at some point borrowed from other languages. Moreover, communication can be carried out in more than one language at the same time, as for instance the various types of code switching activities. Likewise, grammatical patterns can spread across geographic (or other) spaces with out that the respective linguistic material (morphemes) needs to be the same. Some spaces (e.g., cities) can typically reveal a high degree of linguistic diversity. And in fact new repertoires can emerge from scratch in scenarios where speakers have no access to the other interlocutors’ repertoire or where no lingua franca is involved. This (incomplete) list of examples of multilingual settings appears even more complex when we consider which of these usages are easily recognized and which remain hidden. Language ideologies can influence our awareness of some of these scenarios. The use of English in business contexts or on the internet is not only visible but also highly accepted and prestigious. Others can be visible but at the same time discouraged or marginalized (e.g., migrant minorities). Yet others can be completely invisible to the point that their use or existence of a linguistic repertoire are denied. The aim of this class is to take stock of the various ways of non-monolingual linguistic activity and to assess the ideologies behind evaluations, the socio-economic values and the politics which accompany non-monolingual features or repertoires. The seminar starts in the first week of term. Students who are interested in the class but cannot come in the first week are kindly asked to notify me via email before the start of the lecture period. close

12 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Mon, 16:00 - 18:00 12 Class schedule

Mon, 2019-04-08 16:00 - 18:00

Lecturers:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ferdinand von Mengden