FAST-US-1 (TRENPK2) Introduction to American English is a
compulsory basic course in both the English Translation and FAST curricula,
meeting on Mondays from 1015-1145 in B-4087. US-1 is designed to be taken
during the first year of study.
US-1 provides an overview of American English as the dominant variant
of World English. It reviews basic differences between 'standard' American
and British English, and presents a sociolinguistic overview of historical
and contemporary influences on American English, including those of Black
English, Spanish, and Yiddish, variously-marked loan words, jargon and
euphemisms, forbidden and profane language, and the mixture of all these
in U.S. sociocultural stereotyping.
US-1 is worth 2 ECTS credits with evaluation by a class examination. An
additional 2 ECTS credits may be earned via an approved optional paper. Students should join the
USA1-L course e-mail list.
