Course Description

English is the most widely spoken language in the history of the world. Yet despite its presence in every aspect of our lives, the consequences of its scope and diversity are not widely understood. The course will explore how the spread of the English language worldwide has been shaped by a range of historical, social, and political factors, and how new “Englishes” emerged and developed their own accent(s), vocabulary, and grammar. Students in this course will critically examine key controversial issues such as the persistent exonormative model of Standard English, the ownership of English, the use of English as a global lingua franca, the discourses of postcolonialism, the relationship between language, power and education, the attitudes to and the linguistic rights of non-native speakers of English, and the future of English.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain the main aspects of the origins and development of the English language.
2. Describe the various roles played by English in a variety of countries and communities, both as a first and a second/foreign language.
3. Describe differences between varieties of English with respect to accent, vocabulary and grammar.
4. Critically reflect on the arguments for and against the use of English as a global lingua franca.
5. Analyze sociolinguistic phenomena and issues both to academic peers as well as to the wider non-linguistic, non-academic community, in an intelligent, interesting and accessible mode and manner.
6. Appraise and respond to the views and presentations of others as found in published texts as well as in class.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)