16833
Seminar
Language in Berlin
Ferdinand von Mengden
Kommentar
How does language work in a socially diverse and complex space of a large city? This is the central question which will guide us though various linguistic practices, communities, ideologies, and attitudes that help us explaining language in an urban space.
We will focus on Berlin and take advantage of our familiarity with the city in order to identify how language use produces and reinforces identity constructions, group affiliations, social cohesion and social segregation in an environment in which everybody seems to be constantly in touch with people from different backgrounds. The linguistic and social complexity of a space like Berlin will be studied along the following two main research question:
For one we will explore how, on the one hand, self-image and language ideologies (What do we / others believe how we / others employ our linguistic repertoire?) and, on the other hand, the empirically observable practices and behavior (How and by means of which resources do people talk in a given context?) correspond or conflict with each other? And which conclusions can we draw from this for our understanding of social processes?
The second question concerns the visibility or invisibility of linguistic practices in an urban space. Written / graphic representations of language(s) are one important layer here. The term ‘linguistic landscapes’ refers to the way in which languages are displayed (or not) in public. What does it mean if some languages are represented for instance in sign posts, official announcements, public transport, advertising, political posts, stickers, graffiti etc. and if others are missing. The (in)visibility of language can however also refer to the way we talk about certain languages – or how we ignore the presence of languages in spite of us regularly hearing them.
Anyone who would like to participate in the seminar, but cannot come to the first class, is kindly asked to notify me via email.
Schließen
We will focus on Berlin and take advantage of our familiarity with the city in order to identify how language use produces and reinforces identity constructions, group affiliations, social cohesion and social segregation in an environment in which everybody seems to be constantly in touch with people from different backgrounds. The linguistic and social complexity of a space like Berlin will be studied along the following two main research question:
For one we will explore how, on the one hand, self-image and language ideologies (What do we / others believe how we / others employ our linguistic repertoire?) and, on the other hand, the empirically observable practices and behavior (How and by means of which resources do people talk in a given context?) correspond or conflict with each other? And which conclusions can we draw from this for our understanding of social processes?
The second question concerns the visibility or invisibility of linguistic practices in an urban space. Written / graphic representations of language(s) are one important layer here. The term ‘linguistic landscapes’ refers to the way in which languages are displayed (or not) in public. What does it mean if some languages are represented for instance in sign posts, official announcements, public transport, advertising, political posts, stickers, graffiti etc. and if others are missing. The (in)visibility of language can however also refer to the way we talk about certain languages – or how we ignore the presence of languages in spite of us regularly hearing them.
Anyone who would like to participate in the seminar, but cannot come to the first class, is kindly asked to notify me via email.
Schließen
Zusätzliche Termine
Di, 14.10.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 21.10.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 28.10.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 04.11.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 11.11.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 18.11.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 25.11.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 02.12.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 09.12.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 16.12.2025 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 06.01.2026 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 13.01.2026 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 20.01.2026 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 27.01.2026 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 03.02.2026 10:00 - 12:00 Di, 10.02.2026 10:00 - 12:00Weitere Suchergebnisse zu 'Geodynamische Entwicklung von Europa'