HG4021 LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE & SHIFT

In this course, you will be introduced to the study of language maintenance [LM] and shift (LS). The course covers the main foci: (a) factors and forces that lead individuals, groups and communities to `maintain' or `abandon' their language(s) in bi- or multilingual situations, (b) modes of examining LM and LS in a variety of contexts, and (c) the role that family, community and institutional efforts play in maintaining a `minority' or `threatened' language. The course will also cover various frameworks and theories that have been developed to understand why some groups or communities are keen and/or successful in maintaining their language(s) and why others are not. We will draw upon many different studies to illustrate these phenomena as well as the efforts and challenges in maintaining a minority or threatened language.

Prerequisites Tree