English and the Study of Language

Recommended Prerequisites

CEFRL level B.2 of English.  

Teaching Methods

 Oral presentations, lectures, language analysis from naturally occurring instances of use, class debates and group work. Assessment according to the Rules of Assessment of the 1st cycle of studies.

Learning Outcomes

This course offers a linguistic introduction to the study of human language and Modern English. By the end of the course, the students will be able to

a)         identify the fundamental differences between spoken and written language and their interaction with technology.

b)         show an understanding of the morphological structure of words and the history underlying the lexical variety.

c)         explain how and why language varies across speakers and over time

d)         illustrate the effect history and ethnicity on language variation;

e)         demonstrate how individuals acquire language and how language works in the brain.

f)          show an informed perspective on the rise of New Englishes and Global English and its impact on society;

g)         apply basic concepts of English sound structure and word structure to data, and explain how they are affected by language change, language variation, identity and contact.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.         Speech and writing. the sounds of English and the nature of English spelling.

2.         Language and the internet: txt speak and creativity.

3.         Words and the lexicon: dictionaries, meaning and the parts of words.

4.         Language change and history: English words and what they tell us about the history of its speakers.

5.         Language variation and dialects: Standard English and regional varieties.

6.         Language contact and ethnicity: Black American English, Chicano English and English Creoles.

7.         First Language acquisition: English as a native language and how language works in the brain.

8.         Second language acquisition and English as Second and Foreign Language.

9.         Globalization and multilingualism: New Englishes and Global English.

(N.B. The syllabus may be changed depending on the teacher.)

Head Lecturer(s)

Andrew Vincent Packett

Assessment Methods

Periodic Assessment
Outra: 25.0%
Mini Tests: 25.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Final Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Crystal, D. (2019). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (3rd edition). Cambridge: CUP.

Culpeper, J.; Katamba, F.; Kerswill, P. (2018). English Language: Description, Variation and Context. London: Palgrave.

Cushing, I. (2018). Text Analysis and Representation. Cambridge; CUP.

Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G.K. (2005). A Student’s Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge; CUP.

Jenkins, J. (2003). World Englishes: a resource book for students. London: Routledge.

McCulloch, G. (2019). Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language. New York: Riverhead Books.

Plag, I.; Arndt-Lappe; S. Braun M.; Schramm, M. (2015). Introduction to English Linguistics. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Pullum, G. (2018). Linguistics: Why It Matters. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Yule, G. (2020). The Study of Language (7th edition). Cambridge; CUP.