WiSe 19/20: Ü-Language Change I
Ferdinand von Mengden
Kommentar
Language varies and changes. All the time. At any place. Yet, if we take a closer look, we will see that linguistic developments do not always have to be random. There are discernible patterns underlying language variation and identifiable pathways of linguistic change. Moreover, a change on one linguistic level (syntax, morphology, phonology, lexicon) may in turn trigger a shift of the system in one of the other domains.
In addition, explanations of existing structures and how they come into being are not necessarily internal to the linguistic system. In fact, it is often social or psychological aspects which explain variation and change. An individual speaker’s motivations and conceptualizations stand in a reciprocal relation with habitual or traditional practices of a society – both as conflicts and as acts of reproduction. An important underlying aim of this class will therefore be to gain an understanding of the feedback loop between individual behavior and social conventions – and hence with the subtle way such social conventions (like language) change over time.
Examining these patterns and principles of linguistic change includes the question of how and why the structures of a language nevertheless remains sufficiently stable to allow successful communication. While these principles apply cross-linguistically, we will examine them primarily, but not exclusively, by looking at examples from English.
Those who wish to participate but cannot come to the first class are kindly asked to notify me via email before the beginning of the lecture period.
Schließen16 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung