This course is an introduction to the main concepts and methods of  analysis and interpretation of dialectal variation across the Spanish-speaking world. The focus will be on lexical and syntactic differences in Spanish as spoken in Europe and Latin America, including consideration of how these differences arose, as well as how they are maintained in modern day society. Students will be introduced to methodologies in studying variation, and will gain first-hand experience at empirical linguistic analysis.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the complex nature of variation and its context.

2. Identify and describe variation structures in contrast to standard norms.

3. Systematically analyse differences between different varieties of Spanish.

4. Use appropriate linguistic terminology in spoken and written language.

5. Link variation patterns to theoretical concepts.

2 Exams 40% (LO 1,2,3,4,5)

Oral presentation 30% (LO 1,2,4,5,)

Critical summary of linguistic reading (1500 words) (30%) (LO 1,2,4,5)

This course has 3 weekly contact hours (1 lecture and 2 tutorials) and additionally 6-7 hours per week outside contact hours.

Prerequisite: SPAN2002 or equivalent level of language proficiency as demonstrated by a language placement test.

Prerequisite: SPAN2002 or equivalent level of language proficiency as demonstrated by a language placement test.

Hualde, José; Ignacio, Anxton Olarrea, Anna María Escobar, and Catherine E. Travis. 2010. Introducción a la Lingüística Hispánica. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. (Chapters 6,7,8)

Additional readings will be distributed in class and /or on Wattle.