LG353-6-AU-CO:
English in the British Isles

The details
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
24 April 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA QQ13 English Language and Linguistics,
BA QQ15 English Language and Linguistics (Including Placement Year),
BA QQ16 English Language and Linguistics (Including Foundation Year),
BA QQ3D English Language and Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
MLINQA15 English Language and Lingistics (Including Placement Year),
MLINQA16 English Language and Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
MLINQQ14 English Language and Linguistics

Module description

The module looks at the history and development of the English Language, and variation in English as it is spoken in the British Isles. The focus is on phonological variation, although salient syntactic, morphological and lexical features are also covered, illustrating with recordings wherever possible.

Module aims

• To introduce students to the salient features of the major accents and dialects of English, including historical varieties of the language and the ways in which these varieties evolved
• To enable students to develop an informed view of the status of non-standard varieties of English
• To provide practice in linguistic analysis, phonetic transcription and elementary auditory training.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you should have...

• An appreciation of why and how the English language changed over time.
• A comprehensive understanding of historical and sociolinguistic influences on language change.
• Gained insight into aspects of phonological and morphological variation.
• Gained a comprehensive understanding of concepts such as dialect and accent.
• Improved your transferable skills in auditory perception and phonetic transcription.

Module information

Module Moodle page

Learning and teaching methods

2-hour weekly lecture The lecture provides a general overview of the topic for the week, illustrated by recorded material where appropriate. Additional activities include the following: • analysing historical texts • listening to recordings and analysing them • practice in phonetic transcription • discussion of questions arising from the lecture • discussion of readings • question period

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay  13/01/2025   

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Enam Al-Wer, email: enama@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Enam Al-Wer
Professor Enam Al-Wer, Number 2240, Office: 4.131 enama@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Sam Christian D'Elia
Dr Roxanne Taylor
University of Huddersfield
Lecturer in English
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 12 hours, 12 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Language and Linguistics

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