- UCAS course code
- QR34
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
The Changing English Language
Unit code | LELA20401 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
In this unit, we will explore some of the major changes to the words and grammar of English. We will discuss how semantic and grammatical changes are studied, modelled and explained. As such, this unit is also an introduction to these topics in Historical Linguistics in general and to some of the methods, theories and discussions in this subdiscipline of Linguistics.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
History and Varieties of English | LELA10342 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
English Word and Sentence Structure | LELA10301 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
- Study some of the major changes affecting the words and grammar of English
- Introduce students to (English) Historical Linguistics and prepare them for more advanced study as well as research projects in this area
Syllabus
- The first week will be devoted to an introduction to (English) Historical Linguistics. After that, the unit is organised thematically with a first group of topics centred around semantic changes, a second group around grammatical changes.
- The final week sums up what students have learned about Historical Linguistics in these diverse case studies.
- The seminars will introduce students to the current methods in Historical Linguistics: historical corpora, data collection, data analysis, reading and writing linguistic analyses.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures 11x 2 hours
Seminars 11x 1 hour
Blackboard site
Homework including reading and data analysis
2 x 1hr weekly consultation hours
Knowledge and understanding
- Sophisticated understanding of a number of major semantic and grammatical changes in English
- Insight into the workings and effects of language change over a long period of time
- Knowledge of main terms, as well as some theories and debates in (English) Historical Linguistics
- Good understanding of the data and methods used in (English) Historical Linguistics
Intellectual skills
- Explain and apply key terms in Historical Linguistics to new data sets
- Critically discuss different theoretical approaches to and debates about major changes affecting English
- Understand main claims in research papers on semantic and grammatical change
Practical skills
- Collect data to study semantic and grammatical changes in English
- Analyse and interpret sets of selected examples evidencing change in English
- Speak and write about semantic and grammatical change
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Skills in linguistic analysis that can be applied to the study and analysis of other languages
- Problem solving and analytical thinking skills, when faced with new data sets and grammatical puzzles
- Oral and written communication skills, including essay writing and scholarly referencing
- Attention to detail and precision in analysis and reporting
Assessment methods
Assessment Task | Formative or Summative | Weighting |
Written coursework, including data analysis | Formative and Summative | 30% |
Data analysis and writing tasks (in seminars) | Formative | 0% |
Exam, including a theory question and a data analysis question | Summative | 70% |
Feedback methods
Feedback method | Formative or Summative |
Discussion and Q&A in lectures and seminars | Formative |
Individual comments on essay | Formative and Summative |
Seminar feedback on data question | Formative |
Individual comments on exam (upon request) | Summative |
Recommended reading
- Kay, Christian & Kathryn L. Allan. 2015. English historical semantics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Fischer, Olga, Hendrik De Smet & Wim van der Wurff. 2017. A brief history of English syntax. Cambridge: CUP.
- Bybee, Joan. 2015. Language change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Traugott, Elizabeth Closs. 2003. Constructions in grammaticalization. In Brian D. Joseph and Richard D. Janda (eds.), The Handbook of Historical Linguistics, 624-647. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
(Sections from) books and papers on individual topics will be added during lectures
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 3 |
Lectures | 22 |
Seminars | 11 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 164 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Tine Breban | Unit coordinator |