English Language

Course summary

“Language, never forget, is more fashion than science, and matters of usage, spelling, and pronunciation tend to wander around like hemlines.” Bill Bryson, “Mother Tongue” In this course you will explore the different varieties of English and how language has changed over time. You will have the opportunity to develop your own writing too, to suit different audiences and purposes. The course gives insights into how language is used to construct meaning and influence ideas, including, for example, its importance in advertising, politics, and the representation of different social groups. While the course focuses on English, many aspects are relevant to linguistics generally, namely the scientific study of languages and how they function.