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A History of English: York's Tale - 40N0134

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  • Department: English and Related Literature
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Beck Sinar
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module is for Norwegian Study Centre Postgraduate Students only.

This postgraduate module outlines and critically evaluates aspects of variation and change in the English language from Old English up to and including the Present Day, using examples from different texts from the City of York. You will examine theoretical and analytical frameworks that explore issues of language variation, language contact, language and identity; analyse the role of language in social relationships and practices; and look at how linguistic theory can be applied to the analysis of literature and culture. This module equips you with high-level research skills that you can apply in your essay writing, which allows you to address a research area of particular interest with the knowledge you have gathered during the module.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24
B Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

1. To provide you with an overview of the development of English at various stages of its development from Old English to the present day. This overview will be discussed within a framework of ideas about the causation and progress of linguistic change and the origins of sociolinguistic variation.

2. To develop your abilities in the linguistic analysis of modern and historical texts. You will be required to read and analyse materials from different stages of English for presentation and discussion in seminars.

3. To equip you with the knowledge and skills to describe linguistic changes and produce critical accounts of the factors involved in these changes.

4. To encourage and develop independent research skills, including finding and critiquing academic peer-reviewed literature, and academic writing

5. To allow you to experience and develop key skills of IT, communication and learning how to learn.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical knowledge of the historical development of a few historically central, specific areas of phonology, morphology and syntax in the History of English, and provide examples from texts with a connection to the City of York.

2. Evidence understanding of different types of language change and analyse the role of language internal and language external factors in these changes.

3. Interpret different historical sources as evidence for different stages of the English language and for processes of language change, and understand the issues and problems in doing so.

4. Demonstrate familiarity with and the use of a range of research methods and tools (for example, library and archival catalogues and online databases).

5. Show that you have developed the academic, personal and professional skills required to equip you to undertake your MA dissertation in Norway and to afterwards carry on to PhD research or make immediate impact upon employment in a relevant field such as teaching.

Module content

This module is primarily about the historical development of the English language, which is usually told as the story of the development and spread of Standard Southern British English. This traditional narrative is challenged throughout the module and retold through the lens of the non-standard northern City of York. We will conduct original research and critically compare our findings to the established literature. You should therefore be prepared to analyse different texts each week and to make various field trips around York to discover things for yourselves, as well as to read widely in the established academic literature. The module will be assessed via an individual essay of 5000 words on a topic of your choice related to the module which must include some original empirical research.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

As this module requires independent and original research, you will be supported via 10 hours of tutorials. Some of these will be used to discuss submitted formative work (your essay plan and essay draft), but others will be used to provide you with further oral feedback on your research plans and academic writing. You should be prepared that some of these tutorials might be with other students and might involve you preparing work, including short presentations, in advance. The exact nature of the tutorials and feedback will depend on the research topic chosen and the nature of the research methodology. These tutorials will be an important part of the formative assessment for this module.

In addition, you will also be required to complete weekly practical linguistics tasks outside contact hours which will then be discussed during contact hours. These tasks can be completed individually or in small groups, and are designed to provide you with independent and critical research skills in linguistics. Feedback will be provided during contact hours in a variety of different forms including verbal and written feedback from the tutor as well as from your peers.

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

Formative: During the teaching period, you will be required to submit a detailed essay plan and two drafts to the module convenor for feedback. You will receive written comments on each of these within 14 working days of submission. Further feedback will be provided during tutorials. These tutorials are designed to help you with the skills needed to successfully conduct individual and original MA-level work/research.

Summative: You will receive a mark on the University of York scale and written feedback on your summative assessment within 20 working days of submission. This is normally sent via email. You are welcome to discuss this written feedback with the module convenor, your pastoral supervisor, the YorkCourse Co-ordinator and/or the NSC Director.

Indicative reading

History of English

Any general history of English textbook will provide the necessary background, such as:

Gramley, S (2012) The History of English. London: Routledge.

Lerer, S (2007) Inventing English. New York: Columbia University Press.

As an MA student you are also expected to consider more specialised works such as:

• Hogg, R (1992, ed) The Cambridge History of the English Language. Volume 1: The beginnings to 1066. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Milroy, J and L. Milroy (1991) Authority in Language: Investigating Language Prescription and Standardisation. London: Routledge. Townend, M (2006) 'Contacts and Conflicts: Latin, Norse and French' in Mugglestone, L (ed.) (2006) The Oxford History of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp 61-85.

Northern English

The module covers the language, history and culture of northern England, with a particular focus on York. You might therefore find the following texts useful for the social context:

• Beal, J. C., & Cooper, P. (2015). The enregisterment of northern English. Researching Northern English, 27-50.

• Groom, B, (2022) Northerners: A history from the ice age to the present day. Harper Collins: London

• Montgomery, C. (2007). Northern English dialects: A perceptual approach (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sheffield).

  • Wales, K. (2006). Northern English: A social and cultural history. Cambridge University Press.

Sociolinguistics

We will also be using sociolinguistic theory, so you might find the following introductory texts useful:

• Chambers, J.K. (2003). Sociolinguistic Theory [2nd Edition]. Oxford: Blackwell.

• Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009) Introducing sociolinguistics [2nd edition]. Edinburgh University Press. Meyerhoff, M. (2007). Introducing sociolinguistics. Abingdon: Routledge

• Wardhaugh, R. (2006). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics [5th Edition]. Oxford: Blackwell.

You will be required to research the topic of your essay for yourself using a mix of up-to-date textbooks, specialised books and journals. You will receive training in finding and using academic resources in the weekly separate compulsory research training seminars.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.