This class attempts to introduce students to varieties of (spoken) English in the Mediterranean, a linguistically diverse area encompassing numerous islands and nation states with differing national languages, cultures and histories. Given differing roles and statuses of English in the Mediterranean countries, they are commonly considered either Outer or Expanding circle countries (Kachru '85).
Principal focus of this seminar will be on varieties of English spoken in Spain, Gibraltar, Cyprus and Malta. Students will examine spoken data (at times also written texts) and conduct linguistic analyses with a special focus on phonologic and phonetic analyses, utilizing PRAAT where applicable. Further, theoretical concepts central to language change and contact (e.g. ENL-ESL-ESF/standard/national/first language) will be encountered and critically debated. Moreover, current models of Word Englishes (e.g. Kachru ‘85, Schneider ‘07, Mair ‘16) and their possible application to the Mediterranean context will be reviewed.

Requirements:

WD-2a: Studienleistung [pass/fail]
• Active participation: obligatory readings, some homework, some in-class (group) tasks, short presentation +
• Oral presentation (20 min)


WD-2c: Prüfungsleistung [grade]
• Active participation: obligatory readings, some homework, some in-class (group) tasks, short presentation +
• Oral presentation (30 min) + 1 Worksheet + Reading assignment

This is an advanced course in Linguistic Fieldwork Methods, with a hands-on module in which each students will devise their own fieldwork plan and perform elicitation with a speaker of Zulu. Furthermore, we will discuss some basic theoretical and methodological concepts of linguistic fieldwork: I will introduce the students into a critical approach to fieldwork, based on self-reflection, group discussion and guided readings. Also, we will practice phonetic transcription in several languages using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and learn the basics of ELAN, a software for linguistic analysis of primary data.
At the end of the course, the student will have acquired:
• General understanding on how to device a fieldwork plan
• Critical reflection on some basic linguistic concepts such as “field”, “speaker”, “language
• Insights into possible methodologies to gather linguistic data
• Hands-on experience in linguistic elicitation with a speaker of Zulu (5 days)
• Basic knowledge of the software ELAN and practice in linguistic transcription in IPA
• Insights into the ethical issues relevant to linguistic fieldwork

This course gives an overview of current research trends in the areas of multimodal linguistics and media studies, focusing on recent advancements in the application of linguistic (and other) frameworks to a variety of artifacts and performances. We will discuss various communicative situations in our daily lives, resulting from the use of social media and gaming applications (Instagram, Snapchat, Pokemon Go, etc.), challenged by fake news and global Trumpism and influenced by architecture, design and spatial environments around us.

The course will start with a theoretically and methodologically oriented overview of newest multimodality research. Students will learn how to discuss approaches for characterizing combinations of semiotic modes in different contexts and to develop concrete research questions and analytical approaches for examining the discussed examples.
In the second half of the semester, international guest researchers with multimodal expertise will present their current research project and discuss them with the group. Students will be asked to actively engage in the discussion and develop own research questions and project outlines from these discussions.