352 The German Language in America, 3 cr.
Prerequisites: German 351 or consent of instructor
Louden, Lec 1 TR 1:00-2:15
In this course we will consider structural and sociolinguistic aspects of German-descended languages/dialects spoken in the United States. Approximately half the course will be devoted to Pennsylvania Dutch, as it is/has been spoken among both Old Order sectarians and nonsectarians, in Pennsylvania and beyond. In the second half of the course we will examine German dialects in Wisconsin and Texas German. The focus on vernacular varieties (Pennsylvania Dutch, various Wisconsin German dialects, and Texas German) will be complemented by analysis of standard German as it has been used in writing (e.g., in
newspapers), but also as a spoken medium, especially in Wisconsin. For a final project, each student will analyze a digitized interview of interest from the Max Kade Institute's North American German Dialect Archive.
There are no required texts.
