Proseminar English Dialects Focus on the North

In this seminar we will find out about different definitions of the north England, i.e. what is part of 'the North' and what is not and where do we draw a line geographically. Of course, we will also deal with what makes the North distinct from the South in linguistic terms. This includes both phonetics and phonology and morphology and syntax. We will soon realize that the language of the north is by no means homogeneous. It can be subdivided into smaller dialect areas. We will learn about urban and rural dialects, and the role of dialect leveling. But what is a region without its people? In fact, the image a region has and prevailing attitudes towards the people from there are closely linked. The image of the north is that -it is grim up north-. Major industrial cities dominate the north of England and with this a predominantly working class population. This has, of course, long changed, but the image persists. Some northern accents are considered warm, friendly and helpful, while rating very low on social prestige. We will, towards the end of the semester, concentrate on attitudinal dialectology and representations of the north, its people and its language in the media. A reader will be available from the copy shop Schug & Real, Reckhammerweg 4, from the first week of the semester, which you are expected to bring to the first session. Anglistik Universität Duisburg-Essen SS 2012 LHRGe, Lehramt an Grund-, Haupt-, Real- u. Gesamtschule, Sp Haupt-, Real-, Gesamtsch. Luckmann de Lopez Kathrin