European Linguistic Stock

Description
This course consists of six parts. It outlines some general aspects of language, its origin and functions including a short outline of the history of the alphabet. In greater depth the relations and similarities of the European languages are dealt with and many examples given. As recent as possible Statistics of the numbers of speakers of the European languages in Europe and in the world are provided. The histories of the more important European languages are viewed. Details of characteristic aspects of the different languages are given with the aim to enable the student to ascertain, which language a text is written in and to give some assistance and impulses to learn foreign languages.
The course also covers some interesting cultural and sociological aspects of language, with histories of the development of the meaning of words as illustration. One chapter deals with how Europeans understand each other with main emphasis on the role of English as a working language in Europe. Last not least the course deals with some features of the politics the EU is applying in the propagation of language studies and the working practice of the EU as far as translations etc are concerned.

Course Outline:
General aspects of language

The relations of the European languages (loan words - similarities and differences of vocabulary and grammar)

The history and development of the European languages (indoeuropean and non-indoeuropean)

Sociological and cultural aspects of the European languages

Universal languages in Europe
English as the modern universal language (working language)
Language and the Internet

Language politics of the EU
Propagation of language studies
European year of languages