SPAN3291: Transnationalism and Linguistic Contact in the Hispanic World

• Spanish Language 2A (SPAN2011) OR Spanish Language 2B (SPAN2111) OR an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

• Modern European Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: Spanish Language 4 (SPAN3011). Other: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

• To introduce students to the study of language contact as one of the outcomes of a transnational and globalized world. The course will deal with the need for understanding the communication across diverse cultures and will introduce the political, social, educational and linguistic factors that trigger contact and change.
• The course will introduce transnationalism as a methodology used to understand linguistic phenomena like bilingualism, code-switching and lexical borrowing, interference and second language acquisition, pidgins and creoles formation.

• The phenomenon of transnationalism (though migration, slavery and conquest) in an increasingly global world and how this has led to language contact being part of everyday life, with a special emphasis on the Hispanic World.
• This module will look at contact situations within the Hispanic world and will analyse emerging issues of identity and heritage. In particular, two related consequences of contact will be studied: the development of new linguistic forms on the one hand and the processes of acculturation, assimilation, and amalgamation on the other.
• The module will offer an insight into the mechanisms that induce biculturalism and bilingualism drawing on findings from Spanish in contact with English, Italian, Portuguese and Welsh, will show that the transfer of linguistic and cultural material across languages is quite regular and follows universal patterns.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• An understanding of the inadequacy of the one-nation, one-language ideology and of the nature of linguistic and cultural changes.

Subject-specific Skills:

• A grasp of the principles of comparative linguistics and of the contribution of historical linguistics.
• An understanding of basic issues in contact linguistics and how to apply them to other linguistic examples from students own experience as language learners.
• An awareness of lexical borrowing in English and of different kinds of mutilingualism both on a society and individual level.
• Knowledge of new linguistic terminology.

Key Skills:

• Carrying out independent research taking as a starting point the classes and the reading list provided.
• Researching printed and electronic resources.
• Participating in discussions and team work.
• Developing and using analytical skills to solve problems

• Weekly lectures will deliver key information about the module
• Fortnightly seminars with smaller groups will allow for individual presentations and active discussions

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