Course Syllabus

MWF 10:30 am-11:20 am, MEB 237                                    OH: https://oehme.youcanbook.me, Denny 330    

The History of the German Language

In this course, you will gain a better understanding of the “biography” of the German language in the geographical areas of its origin as well as abroad. You will develop familiarity with the linguistic developments of German, as well as the history of research on German, questions of translation (including Martin Luther and the Bible), dialects, language islands, and language changes under the National Socialist dictatorship, 1933-1945. You will understand some of the most important developments in the German language and thus explanations of linguistic phenomena encountered in their language acquisition, including verb conjugation and umlaut. Through the initial exploration of the historical linguistic developments in the first half of the class, you will gain an understanding of contemporary German as well as the relationship between language and power in the second part. At the end of the quarter, you will better understand how language reflects historical and social changes and which linguistic phenomena have shaped contemporary German. Further, through consistent engagement with complex linguistic texts, you will improve your skills in reading academic texts and in formulating your own thoughts and questions.

Participation and Classroom Environment

The success of this class depends on your sharing your own thoughts and questions. Don’t be shy and share your insights with all – this classroom serves as a space to discuss and learn together. To ensure success and provide a safe environment for everybody, all discussions are expected to be conducted in a respectful manner and in a professional behavior. Diverse experiences and perspectives have an important place in our classroom. I intend to present material in a respectful way regarding gender, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, age, culture, ethnicity, race, and disability. Let’s create a welcoming and respectful learning environment together. By participating in this class, you are committing to making this classroom a safe environment for everyone. No discriminatory behavior will be tolerated. 

Material

• Ruth Sanders: Biography of a Language (Oxford University Press, 2010), available at the UW bookstore.

Assignments

• Quizzes and Collaborative Reading: to be completed on Canvas
• Presentation Dialect: short presentations (including handout) in groups of ca. 3-4 students
• Edu-LARP: preparation of character, participation in discussions, and short reflections
• Participation and Klemperer Presentations: active participation in class and online, enabled by active preparation

Screen policy

No laptops, phones, or tablets until prompted (except for DRS accommodations).
Exception: e-ink or tablet note-taking devices may be used for handwriting only.
Once I signal “screens on,” feel free to open laptops or devices for activities or research.

Grade Breakdown

Academic Integrity

In order to foster your own learning and understanding of the material, you have to write your responses independently. Copying or largely paraphrasing another student’s response or other sources for the writing assignments and the final exam will count as cheating and will not be tolerated. In a case of plagiarism or cheating, I will follow UW’s procedures and report the case.

Office Hours

Mondays 2-3 pm (in person), Thursdays 3-4 pm (Zoom) https://oehme.youcanbook.me

Communication and Office Hours

• I will communicate with you via email and Canvas. Please set your notifications on your account accordingly in order to get notified about important messages!
• I try to respond to your messages within 24 hours of receipt during the week. If you email me on Friday afternoon, I may not be able to respond until Monday.
• Sign up for office hours with the reason for your visit here: https://oehme.youcanbook.me.

Generative AI Policy

In this course, students are permitted to use AI-based tools for proofreading (such as Grammarly) or image / slide show generation (such as Canva) on some assignments. However, submission of any portion of work solely produced by a generative AI program or tool as though it is your own is prohibited. The instructions for each assignment will include information about whether and how you may use generative AI-based tools to complete the assignment. All sources, including AI tools, must be properly cited. Use of AI in ways that are inconsistent with the parameters above will be considered academic misconduct and subject to investigation.

Please note that generative AI results can be biased and inaccurate. It is your responsibility to ensure that the information you use from AI is accurate. Additionally, pay attention to the privacy of your data. Many AI tools will incorporate and use any content you share, so be careful not to unintentionally share copyrighted materials, original work, or personal information.

If you have any questions about citations, what constitutes academic integrity, or the use of generative AI in this course or at the University of Washington, please feel free to contact me to discuss your concerns.

Accommodations

UW is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. If you have documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with UW, you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make appropriate arrangements early in the semester. (Additionally, if you have not done so, please register with DRS http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs)

Religious Accommodation

“Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).”