Linguistic Variation and Change

This course offers students an introduction to the analysis of linguistic variation and change. The course will also focus on the geographical, social and cultural aspects of such linguistic studies of spoken language, for example how social and cultural factors affects the spoken language, and relations between traditional dialects and more or less standardized dialects.

The main focus will be placed on the theoretical and methodological aspects of studies of language variation and change, and of spoken language in general. The course is general, but has emphasis on the specific Norwegian language situation.

At the completion of the course, students are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of various factors that are relevant in the understanding of the processes of linguistic variation and linguistic change. She/he is also expected to account for the different methodological and theoretical aspects of the exploration of linguistic variation and change.

Lectures/group work. Supervision will be offered during the course of the semester. Obligatory activity: Approved reading list and approved assignment (written assignment or oral presentation). There will be an oral/written assessment (approved/not approved) of the assignment. There will be a final written test (4 hours)or a term paper with supervision (8-10 pages)and oral test (30 minutes). If the student choses an assessment that includes several components, each of the components must be passed in order to acheive a passing grade in the course. Each component is equal, and in such cases, there will be one grade for the entire course. All components must be passed in the same semester, which means that an individual assessment cannot be transferred from one semester to the next.