Overview

1. The dynamics of language contact,
2. Bilingual acquisition
3. Speakers’ minds as a locus of contact,
4. Transfer effects in bilinguals,
5. Understanding and evaluating theories of bilingual representation
6. Evaluating theories in view of empirical data
7. Language and social subordination,
8. Language maintenance in minority language settings,
9. Contact-induced language change.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D: Student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all the learning outcomes. Student can demonstrate a minimum level of understanding of the basic concepts and be able to apply them to data with some degree of accuracy. -good -B: Student has achieved a better-than-average standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes, and has a clear and accurate understanding of concepts; ability to apply concepts to data critically and thoughtfully; evidence of wide reading and clear and accurate reference to source materials; free from misunderstanding and errors of content; free from irrelevant material. -excellent -A: Student has achieved a thorough standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes; or student has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in one or more learning outcomes together with a good overall standard: student has achieved a thorough understanding of the subject, both in terms of content and theory; student is able to apply concepts clearly and accurately; substantial evidence of critical and original thought and analysis; clear, logical argument; high level of communicative competence; free from irrelevant material and errors of spelling and punctuation; evidence of extensive reading beyond basic texts and clear and accurate references to source material.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate the literature on contact linguistics, its relevance and theoretical contributions.

• Students will be able to integrate a range of linguistic, social, and political parameters in analyzing situations of language contact in various multilingual settings.

• Students will understand the main issues, outcomes, and theoretical advances in the domain of language contact.