Learning outcomes

Knowledge of the historical development of Dutch, particularly in its evolving socio-economic, political and cultural contexts.
 
Critical reflection on the phenomena of language change, evolution and diversification of languages in general.
 
Critical reflection on the links between languages and power (political, economic or cultural) in a historical perspective.
 
Raising awareness of the intralinguistic diversity of Dutch from a sociolinguistic perspective.
 
Development of fluency in Dutch.

Goals

This course presents the changes and diversity of Dutch in the past and today and aims to
  • familiarise students with the Dutch language in all its diversity, similarities and changes, from a historical perspective but also, and above all, from a contemporary one;
  • enable students to gain a better understanding of how languages in general evolve and change.
 
At the language level, with a pre-requisite of CEFR* level B2 in receptive skills and B1+ in productive skills (acquired LNRL B103), to reach at the end of the course a level B2+/C1 in receptive skills and B2 in productive skills (acquired LNRL B201).
 

Content

This course aims to provide insights into the language(s) of our northern neighbours. Dutch is therefore the central focus of the analysis, but also serves as an illustration of the principles of language evolution and variation (e.g. standardisation of languages, creoles). The course is divided into two parts:
 
(a) history and evolution of Dutch from the eleventh to the twenty-first century;
 
(b) diversity and similarity of contemporary Dutch in Flanders and the Netherlands, but also throughout the world and in various contexts.
 
Students will be expected to participate actively in the course. 
 
Participation in any activity organised by the department within or outside the classroom as part of this course is an integral part of the course and is therefore considered compulsory.
 
This course is given in Dutch in the second semester.

Teaching methods

Lectures in Dutch based on the book by Van der Sijs & Willemyns (2009) or the English version by Willemyns (2013), with active participation by students; PowerPoint supports available after the lectures and accompanied by video or audio extracts and illustrative texts.

Assessment method

Oral exam in 3 parts: 
1° definitions, names, titles, events, dates to be given and illustrated/contextualised (15%), 
2° a more important content question with description, contextualisation and consequences (35%) and 
3° a reflective question requiring the integration of content into an elaborate, nuanced and critically reflective response (50%) in clear, correct and nuanced Dutch at B2 level. 
 
No AI will be accepted for the (re)production of texts or content in the formative assessment phases.
 
Students not enrolled in Germanic studies are welcome to take the exam in French or English, instead of Dutch. 

Sources, references and any support material

Van der Sijs, N. & R. Willemyns (2009). Het verhaal van het Nederlands. 12 eeuwen Nederlands. Antwerpen: Standaard Uitgeverij / Bert Bakker. (open source: https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/het-verhaal-van-het-nederla…)
 
Willemyns, R. (2013) Dutch. Biography of a Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Language of instruction

Dutch
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Law Standard 0 5
Bachelor in Law Standard 2 5
Bachelor in Law Standard 3 5