Intro to German Linguistics / Linguistic issues in German linguistics - from meaningful units to language use (60 mins/ day, all summer)

What makes up the German language, how is it structured, and how does it work?

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to German linguistics, enriched with numerous examples. We will approach central questions using comprehensible, authentic examples, exploring contemporary German as well as its historical origins.

The course covers everything from the smallest meaningful units of the German language to the use of German in different situational contexts. Using concrete examples, we will develop a repertoire of basic linguistic terminology needed for concrete language analyses.

Starting with phonetics and phonology of German, we will move on to its morphology and syntax culminating in an exploration of its semantics and pragmatics. An excursus into the history of the German language provides insights into its development and the birth of the field of German linguistics.