English Language

Course summary

English Language is the study of English in its widest sense, from the first words a baby speaks to the most subtle and manipulative advertisements or political speeches. We look at the ways in which writers and speakers change and adapt their language in order to get the reactions that they want from their audience. Language is powerful; it can reveal your gender, your social class, your ethnicity and even your occupation and affect the way others perceive you. Examining the way people interact can tell you much more than you might think. Study English Language to sharpen your analytical and interpretive abilities, and to develop your research skills; you will also improve the quality of your own written and spoken language for a wide range of careers and opportunities. A great deal of the subject involves analysing language from an incredibly wide range of sources, from London street-gang members to the King; advertisements and social media; formal speeches and jokes; babies and the elderly, to see how they affect their audience and affect the way we see the person producing them. You will be expected to offer your own analyses and interpretations and to be able to make use of the same techniques. We will also spend time looking at the latest theories about, and research into, language issues.