ENGL505 The History of the English Language

Updated: 10 May 2011

Unit Information
Additional Information

Credit Points	6
Offering	Not offered in 2012
Intensive School(s)	None
Supervised Exam	There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites	candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites	None
Restrictions	ENGL205 or ENGL305 or LING203 or LING303
Notes	offered in odd numbered years
Combined Units	ENGL305 - The History of the English Language
Coordinator(s)	John Ryan (jryan@une.edu.au)
Unit Description	The unit discusses the evolution of English as a conceptual and cultural vocabulary used by the speakers and writers of the language particularly in the British Isles and in Australia. The treatment will keep a proper balance between lexis and the political, social and intellectual forces determining the vocabulary's development. Dialect, social register, relevant semantics and the evolving lexicography of the language will be stressed as may be appropriate. The course is centred very firmly on the prescribed book.
Materials	Text information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Disclaimer	Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Assessment

Assessment information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Learning Outcomes (LO)

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

compare and discuss the stylistic manner of at least two major authors; and the characteristics at least one form of regional English, from Australia, New Zealand, or another appropriate activity/variety;
apply understanding of the pattern of development of the English language from c 450 AD to the present, necessarily focussing mainly on England and its vocabulary;
comprehend fully that 'users make the language' and that 'standard English' is a very complex matter, and depends on everchanging criteria; and
understand the inevitable modification of vocabulary and semantic nuances due to a mass of cultural forces.

Graduate Attributes (GA)

	Attribute	Taught	Assessed	Practised
1	Knowledge of a Discipline Students will gain a detailed understanding of the development of the English language from c 450 AD to the present.This will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam.
2	Communication Skills Students' communication skills, in particular reasoning and formal argument, will be enhanced through understanding the history and development of the language.These will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam.
3	Global Perspectives Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of the global context of the English Language.This will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam.
4	Information Literacy Students will work with jstor and other electronic databases in this unit and this will enhance their research skills and ability to use e-resources.Their understanding of these databases will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam.
5	Life-Long Learning Students will practise intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.These will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam.
6	Problem Solving Students will apply logical, critical and creative thinking to understanding the development of the English language.This will be assessed through the assignments and the final exam
7	Social Responsibility Students will understand the strands of racism, sexism and propaganda that have been threaded though the English language, particularly in the last 200 years. The treatment of 'snarl' semantics enables students to define more specifically this element in contemporary journalism/media 'reporting'.
8	Team Work Students will enhance team work skills in an electronic environment through the use of the Bulletin Board.

Global UNE Links:

Course and Unit Catalogue 2012

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ENGL505 The History of the English Language

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