Language, Interaction, Society (LIS)

The focus area Language - Interaction - Society explores the complex relationships between language, communication, and societal structures. It integrates theories and methods to understand how language influences social interaction and shapes social identity. The core-elective modules cover topics such as the history of language and communication, contemporary language use, and the dynamics of language contact and interference, with a particular emphasis on Dutch language studies. Students delve into sociolinguistics, examining how language variation and change reflect broader societal shifts. Specialized courses, like Niederländische Variationsforschung and Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft: Fokus Soziolinguistik, offer in-depth perspectives on language change, multilingualism, and the intersection of language with social factors. Through these modules, students gain a critical understanding of language as both a tool for communication and a social force.

Helpful documents like sample curricula and the annex to the study regulations can be found in the download section. 

Depending on the courses chosen: German and/or Dutch

In the focus area Language, Interaction, Society (Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft) you have to choose modules according to the following rules:

• all compulsory modules (P-Module) out of the module group "Methodology" (Methodologie), which are 30 ECTS credits in total
• at least 33 ECTS credits from the module group "Language, Interaction, Society" (Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft)
• at least 9 ECTS credits from the module group "Language, Interaction, Society: Focus Sociolinguistics" (Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft: Fokus Soziolinguistik)
• at least 18 additional ECTS credits of free choice from within the program
• Master thesis (30 ECTS credits)

Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft

Sprache, Interaktion, Gesellschaft: Fokus Soziolinguistik (English)

The modules for this focus area are offered by the German Department.