ENGL 315-01, The English Language, Spring 2005

Abstract

This course traces the development of English, looking at the concept of language in general and the English language in particular (its sounds, its vocabulary, its dialects) as well as the psychological, social, cultural and political forces that have influenced the language. Three basic themes provide the structure for our semester: history, diversity, and change. We'll examine the history of English as it developed in England, the United States, and other parts of the world. We'll explore the diversity of English, a language now used by millions (billions?) of speakers, yet paradoxically viewed by some in the US as a language so threatened that it needs government protection in the form of English-Only laws. We'll learn about ways American English differs from the English spoken in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Caribbean, India, Nigeria, and other countries where English is either an official language or a common second language. In short, we’ll explore the ways in which English, like any language, has evolved.