Linguistics
Linguistics
The History of English: York's Tale
This description is for the postgraduate level YorkCourse.
40N0134
Background
This module critically explores the nature and causation of language variation and change throughout the history of English, using the sights, sounds and texts of, from and about the modern and historic city of York. This unusual and creative case study will allow us to systematically discover things for ourselves, to create original academic arguments, and to challenge the traditional narratives of the History of English. Throughout the module we will use a truly interdisciplinary approach, drawing on scientific linguistics as well as the traditional humanities and social sciences, which means the module should have broad appeal.
Module description
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. You should 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.
Course aims
The main aims of the module are to:
- 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.
- 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.
- To equip you with the knowledge and skills to describe linguistic changes and produce critical accounts of the factors involved in these changes.
- To explore, and help you learn to read, scholarly literature on language change, the history of English, and sociolinguistic variation.
- To allow you to experience and develop key skills of IT, communication and learning how to learn.
Learning outcomes/objectives
By the end of the module you should be able to:
- Demonstrate 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.
- Show understanding of different types of language change and analyse the role of language internal and language external factors in these changes.
- 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.
- Read scholarly articles in linguistics and understand the key points of the article.
- Relate your own research interests to results in published articles, and write about the connection in readable academic prose.
Assessment
The course is assessed by a 5000 word essay on a topic of your choice related to the course.
Course materials
You will be given a detailed reading list at the start of the course, but you might find the following texts useful for background:
History of English
Any general history of English textbook will cover many of the themes which will be explored during the module. Examples include the following (note that many of these are available as e-books via the University of York library and many of them have earlier or later editions than those listed below – all editions are useful):
- Barber, C. L. (2000) The English Language: a Historical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University
- Crystal, D. (2004) The Stories of English. London: Penguin.
- Gramley, S. (2012) The History of English. London: Routledge.
Language Variation and Change/Sociolinguistics
You might also consider finding out more about sociolinguistics. The following textbooks are a good starting point:
- 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.
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/cultural/historical context:
- Groom, B, (2022) Northerners: A history from the ice age to the present day. Harper Collins: London
- Wales, K. (2006). Northern English: A social and cultural history. Cambridge University Press.
Workload
This module should equate to about 200 hours of study. You are expected to attend all assigned lectures and seminars, and attendance will be monitored. You will also be offered one-to-one consultation slots during the course where you will be able to discuss your essay in detail.
Full details of the timetable will be given to you at the start of the course.
The remainder of the time should be spent completing individual study/research and ensuring you are fully prepared for lectures and seminars.
Culture
Culture
Stories of Power
This description is for the postgraduate level YorkCourse.
40N0125
Introduction
Since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 we have collectively faced a much darker world. In several countries the politico-economic consensus of the last forty years has collapsed and, generally speaking, a drift to authoritarian and xenophobic politics has come in its place. This module helps explain how we got here, and starts to give an idea of the challenges we face in the future.
It does this from the perspective of institutional political economy. In short, institutional political economy is a framework that holds that politics (and the struggle for power inherent in politics) creates law, and law creates the economic system in which individuals act. The economy (or "market") then is not separate to politics and the state, but intimately entwined with both. The shape of the economy too will continually be subject to change, rather than running on universal laws. Thankfully, this position is in contrast to orthodox economics (so there's no need for number-crunching) and instead draws upon literature from political science, sociology, economics, history, and legal studies, among others.
Course Organisation
This course is primarily be taught through a mixture of lectures and seminars. In addition, popular films and documentaries are used in relevant weeks.
1. Political Economy and Economic Theory
This section serves as an introduction to both political economy and to distinct economic ideologies. The main point is show that the exploration of economic issues need not been abstract, mathematical and scary, but, instead, can be grounded in everyday experience and needs to involve a consideration of politics. This section sets the theoretical backdrop for our consideration of the rest of the course.
2. Crisis and Austerity
This section explores the origins of, and political response to, the Global Financial Crisis. This section sets the historical backdrop for our consideration of contemporary events.
3. Inequality and Corporate Power
Here we explore two well-established trends of political economy that have intensified since 1979 (and perhaps even more so post-2008). Inequality, in its several forms, will be investigated, as will the influence of corporations on politics, and the problematic relationship between capitalism and democracy more broadly.
4. The Free Market, and the Environment
Finally, we look to the future of the political economy. Two main problems are explored. Firstly, we tackle the nature of the global economy and how it has been constructed. Secondly, we explore the political economic challenge of the globe's ecological and environmental problems.
Assessment
This module will be assessed by an essay of 5000 words in length on a topic of your choice relating to the course. You will write a draft version of this essay and receive detailed comments from your tutor before reworking the essay for final submission. The final essay will be due in late May.
Reading
A week-by-week reading list is provided at the start of the course, and a larger annotated bibliography will be available for research essays. The best book for the foundational weeks of the course, and for getting a sense of the content of the course, is H.J. Chang, Economics: The User's Guide.
Workload
This module should equate to about 200 hours of study. You are expected to attend all assigned lectures and seminars, and attendance will be monitored. You will also be offered one-to-one consultation slots during the course where you will be able to discuss your essay in detail.
Full details of the timetable will be given to you at the start of the course.
The remainder of the time should be spent completing individual study/research and ensuring you are fully prepared for lectures and seminars.
