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Academic Year 2000/2001

The English Language: History, Structure, Politics
ENGL 286 FA
Clusters:
History

The subject of this course is the English language itself, from its earliest extant recorded forms to the present day, which we will examine from various linguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives. Issues covered will include language change, "correctness" and written standards, dialects and vernacularity, colonial and postcolonial uses of English.

MAJOR READINGS

Major readings will be selected from:
Akmajian, et al. LINGUISTICS: AN INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
Blake, A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Graddol, et al. ENGLISH: HISTORY, DIVERSITY, AND CHANGE
along with source materials exemplifying varieties of English, as well as shorter critical and theoretical readings.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Several short papers (4-5 pp.) and one longer research paper (8-10 pp).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Non-majors, however, are welcome. Prior knowledge of linguistics is not required.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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