ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES TO LESSON 1

Sociolinguistic operationalisation of intensity of contact in a historical case of contact-induced language change:

1. Choose a historical case where two languages/varieties have come into contact and where one has influenced the other structurally in a specific regard (e.g. lexicon, phonology, grammar, semantics, pragmatics).
2. Specify the period of contact as best as you can, especially regarding when the structural influence occured.
3. Illustrate your case with a few examples of structural influence.  
4. How would you go about determining the “intensity of contact” (as described by Thomason 2001:59-98) between the languages/varieties with the help of social parameters?
5. Which types of source materials and data would you consult for your case?
6. Prepare a short visual presentation of your case covering points 1-5 above (max. 5 minutes per presentation)