| Description |
Without a doubt, the English language is a major factor of influence in the German-speaking world, and has been so for a considerable while. Attitudes toward English in Germany are ambivalent: on the one hand, English is widely taught and used as the language of globalization. On the other hand, it is often vilified and treated with skepticism, in particular within discourses of linguistic purism.
In this class, we will explore the relation of English in/and Germany from different angles. We will look at the history and different phases of language contact, consider linguistic effects such as anglicisms, and chart different domains of use such as education, commerce, marketing and digital culture. Finally, we will look at relations of English and German beyond the borders of Germany, e.g. in Austria and Switzerland, in Namibia, and in historical German emigrant communities in the USA and Australia.
By critically examining the role of languages and nation states, we will explore our understanding of national categories and linguistic diversity, and how we can rethink them in an age of globalization. |
| Literature |
Görlach, M., 2002. English in Europe. OUP Oxford.
Hilgendorf, S.K., 2007. English in Germany: contact, spread and attitudes. World Englishes, 26(2), pp.131-148.
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