Social history of the English Language

Timetable

1. Data, methods, periodisation in the history of English
2. The pre-history of English: the Indo-European family of languages
3. Old English: the language
4. Old English society
5. Language contact in Early English
6. Middle English (language)
7. Middle English (multilingualism)
8. Middle English (standardisation)
9. Early Modern English (language)
10. Early Modern English (enregisterment)
11. Early Modern English (society)
12. Late Modern English (language)
13. Late Modern English (ascertainment)
14. World Englishes
15. In-class reflective essay

Module aim (aims)

• introducing students to the concept of English as a socio-cultural phenomenon
• providing an overview of the most important events, concepts and phenomena that have shaped the history and modernity of the English language
• helping students discover links between social and civilisational changes and the evolution of the English language over time
• familiarising students with sources (documentary, material, visual) which provide knowledge about the earliest stages of English
• highlighting ideologies which governed the attitudes towards and global spread of English (e.g. standardisation, prescriptivism, imperialism)

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

C1 level of English

Syllabus

The course is worth 3 ECTS points. It will proceed as weekly meetings, each devoted to a different aspect of socially motivated development of the English language. Students will participate in in-class discussions, interpretations of original historical documentation and will engage in problem-solving in response to a modern and/ or historical linguistic problem put forward by the course instructor. 

 

The course is divided into four modules: Old, Middle, Early Modern and Late Modern English respectively. Once each of the modules is completed, students will be required to perform obligatory online activities (available from WA Moodle platform), which combine problem-solving, data interpretation and self-reflection work. At the end of the course students write an in-class reflective essay. A satisfactory completion of all activities (via Moodle) and timely submition of the reflective essay (which meets the criteria of a C1-level appropriate written work) are two core requirements for successfully completing the course.

Reading list

Barber, Charles & Joan C. Beal & Philip A. Shaw. 2009. The English language. A historical introduction (2nd edition). Cambridge: CUP.

Beal, Joan C. 2004. English in modern times: 1700-1945. London: Arnold.

Bex, Tony & Richard J. Watts (eds.). 2002. Standard English. The widening debate. London: Routledge.

Crystal, David. 2006. Language and the Internet (2nd edition). Cambridge: CUP.

Crystal, David. 2005. The stories of English. New York: Overlook Press.

Crystal, David. 2003. English as a global language (2nd edition). Cambridge: CUP.

Graddol, David, Dick Leith & Joan Swann. 2002. English: History, diversity and change. London: Routledge.

Crystal, David. 2003. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English language (2nd edition). Cambridge: CUP.

Higgins, Christina. 2009. English as a local language. Post-colonial identities and multilingual practice. Bristol etc.: Multilingual Matters.

McCrum, Robert. 2010. Globish. How the English language became the world's language. Doubleday Canada.

Trudgill, Peter & Jean Hannah. 2008. International English. A guide to varieties of Standard English. (5th edition). London: Routledge.

Trudgill, Peter & Richard J. Watts (eds.). 2002. Alternative histories of English. London & New York: Routledge.