Diverse realities and linguistic ideologies in the Spanish-speaking world

Language

Spanish

Prerequisites

Consolidated B2 level in Spanish. Basic knowledge of the phonological, phonetic and morpho-syntactic system of modern Spanish. 
Knowledge of the IPA phonetic alphabet and phonetic and phonological transcription. 

Main themes

This course is divided into a first part of diachronic study of the language (topics 1, 2) and a second part of synchronic study of the language (topics(3, 4 & 5).

1. History of the Spanish language: from Vulgar Latin to the modern romance language.
2. History of the Spanish language in America.
3. Description of the different varieties of Spanish in America.
4. Language contact in America: with indigenous languages and with English in the United States.
5. Language politics in the Spanish speaking world

Regarding topics 1 and 2, the external history of the language (rather than the internal) will be focused.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Identify the main historical, social, cultural and political factors that have influenced the development of the Spanish language in the Spanish-speaking world.
2	Identify the main mechanisms of linguistic change in the Spanish language.
3	Recognise the most characteristic features of the different varieties of present-day Spanish.
4	Identify the linguistic ideologies circulating in and about the Spanish-speaking world.
5	Reflect critically on these ideologies, including one's own representations of linguistic variation in the Spanish-speaking world, by comparing them with scientific research on variation and contact situations in the Spanish-speaking world.
This learning unit contributes to the development and command of the following skills and learning outcomes of the ELAL programmes (ELAL learning outcomes): 1.2, 1.6, 2.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 6.1

Content

This course offers students an overview of the variation of Spanish from a diachronic and synchronic point of view, with particular attention to the socio-political factors that have contributed to this variation and to the position of Spanish in the world. 
It introduces the concept of linguistic ideology and takes a critical approach to the linguistic ideologies circulating about and within the Spanish-speaking world. 

Teaching methods

The linguistic content is explained using powerpoint presentations available on Moodle, and audio and video fragments. 
This course requires the regular preparation of exercises to apply the material covered, as well as reading a portfolio of articles. Part of this portfolio will be compulsory and will be the subject of a more detailed commentary in the course. In addition, students will be required to read an article of their choice from the second part of the portfolio. This independent reading will be supplemented by a comprehension questionnaire and a discussion session. 

Evaluation methods

The assessment will be based on a portfolio the students create with examples of linguistic ideologies that students collect over the course of the year and comment on critically (50%) and on an exam on the linguistic variation of Spanish (50%). 

Bibliography

Portefeuille de lecture disponible sur Moodle

Faculty or entity

> ELAL