Universität Wien
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090118 PS Sociolinguistics and Modern Greek Studies (2026S)

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 14 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 09.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 16.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 23.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 13.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 20.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 27.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 04.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 11.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 18.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 01.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 08.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 15.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock
  • Monday 29.06. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Byzantinistik u. Neogräzistik, Postgasse 9, 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course examines applications of both “traditional” and contemporary sociolinguistics in Modern Greek studies from diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Alongside a thorough discussion of core topics essential for understanding the development of Modern Greek from the thirteenth century to the present (such as diglossia, standardization, dialectology, linguistic minorities, and bi-/multilingualism), participants will also engage with newer sociolinguistic approaches that have received comparatively less attention in Modern Greek research. These include third-wave sociolinguistics, discourse- and indexicality-based perspectives, linguistic polycentricity, translingualism, and heritage language theory. The seminar is also conceived as a workshop in which participants can discuss emerging ideas and, where appropriate, design and develop their own research projects.

Assessment and permitted materials

30% Short exam on sociolinguistic theory.
40% Active participation in weekly discussions and preparation of assignments (e.g., summaries or questions to be addressed in-class).
30% Oral presentation of the seminar paper topic.

Successful completion requires participation in all three components.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The pro-seminar’s language is English. Knowledge of German or Greek is advantageous but not a prerequisite.

Examination topics

Participants are first expected to become familiar with the basic concepts and major trends in sociolinguistics that will be addressed in the seminar. After this introductory phase, the focus shifts to topics related to Modern Greek. Participants will work with selected literature, which they will analyze, summarize, and discuss during the seminar sessions. Each participant will also choose a relevant topic and present it.

Reading list

Introductory works on sociolinguistics and relevant suggested readings:

Eckert, Penelope. 2012. Three waves of variation study: The emergence of meaning in the study of variation. Annual Review of Anthropology, 41.87-100.
Eckert, Penelope. 2019. The limits of meaning: Social indexicality, variation, and the cline of interiority. Language 95(4). 751-76.
Ferguson, C. A. (1959). Diglossia. Word, 15(2), 325–340.
Holmes, J. and Wilson, N. 2022. An introduction to sociolinguistics. Sixth edition. Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Wardhaugh, R., & Fuller, J. M. 2014. An introduction to sociolinguistics (7th ed.). Newark : Wiley-Blackwell.

Readings focusing on Modern Greek phenomena and varieties:

Γούτσος, Διονύσης, και Σπυριδούλα Μπέλλα, επιμ. 2022. Κοινωνιογλωσσολογία. Αθήνα: Gutenberg.
Georgakopoulou, Alexandra, ed. 2009. Standard languages and language standards : Greek, past and present. Ashgate.
Karvounis, Christos. 2016. Diglossie, Sprachideologie, Wertekonflikte. Zur Geschichte der neugriechischen Standardsprache (1780 bis 1930). Köln/Wien/Weimar: Böhlau Verlag.
Mackridge, Peter. 2009. Language and National Identity in Greece, 1766- 1976. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Skourtou, Eleni et al. 2020. Language diversity in Greece : Local challenges with international implications. Cham: Springer.
Theodoropoulou, Irene. 2014. Sociolinguistics of Style and Social Class in Contemporary Athens. Amsterdam : John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Tsiplakou, S. (2011). Linguistic Attitudes and Emerging Hyperdialectism in a Diglossic Setting: Young Cypriot Greeks on their Language. Berkeley Linguistic Society, 29, 120-32.

A complete list of readings will be provided during the course.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 23.06.2026 16:06