English Language

Course summary

This subject explores the study of the English language both as a medium of communication and as a topic in its own right. There is an emphasis on your ability to pursue lines of inquiry; debate different views, and work independently to research aspects of language in use. Through the detailed study of a variety of texts and data, you will analyze how and why language is used in different contexts and develop a knowledge of linguistic terminology to support your theories. There are also many opportunities for you to develop your writing skills. You will study a range of written and spoken texts and be given an insight into how the English language has changed from its Anglo-Saxon roots to the present day. You will study the key concepts of audience, purpose, genre, and mode and will explore language in its wider social and geographical context as well as study varieties of English within the British Isles and consider social attitudes to, and debates about, language diversity. The course gives you an insight into the research linked to how children acquire language, providing you with an understanding of both linguistic and cognitive development in children. You will learn how to think critically, how to use research to conduct an investigation, and how to record and analyze your language data with technical precision. You will also be allowed to create texts and reflect critically on your processes of production.