ATS3673 · English across time

Overview

English has been described as one of the most changing and hybrid languages of all times, and in this unit you will survey delve into the history of the language from the earliest written records to the present day. We begin by scrutinising the attitudes towards language change, as well as the motivations and mechanisms that drive the changes, including social, cultural and political factors. All aspects of the linguistic system evolve, and you will analyse changes to English sounds (phonology), vocabulary (lexicon), meanings of words (semantics), structure of words (morphology), sentence structure (syntax) and spelling (orthography). Through examination of both literary and non-literary texts, you will traverse the eras of Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English, illuminating key linguistic shifts across these periods. Under the spotlight will also be the history and development of Standard English and the controversies surrounding its creation and its current status.

Areas of study: Linguistics

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. describe the major structural changes in the history of English;
2. identify the sociohistorical context for these changes;
3. discuss the effects of language contact on English;
4. analyse language data with respect to the evolution of sounds, vocabulary and grammar;
5. explain the major processes of language standardization, focusing on the development of Standard English;
6. devise your own research topic and illustrate the effects of globalization and e-communication on current-day English, supported by a wide range of relevant scholarly sources.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.