Course Objectives

Students will acquire insight into modern research on how the younger generation use language, particularly spoken language, but also written language. They will become familiar with the linguistic trends of young people, as they have been recorded in Norway and other Nordic countries, as well as studies concerning attitudes towards the language of young people.

Course Description

A selection of research projects which analyse the language of youth from various viewpoints, such as linguistic sociology, practicality, language-contact research and studies of youth culture. Examples of linguistic characteristics that will be studied are: pronunciation, small words (discourse particles), slang, “bad language” and foreign elements.

Learning Methods

Instruction in the autumn semester, 2 hours per week for 15 weeks. Lectures, seminars and individual guidance. The course will form part of a Bachelor’s degree programme in Literature and Language with specialisation in Norwegian.

Assessment Methods

Individual home assignment of about 4000 words which counts for 40 %.

A 5-hour final examination, which counts for 60 %.

The student must receive passing grades for both the home-assignment and the final examination in order to receive a passing grade for the course.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean