Course summary

Travel back to the origins of the English language, and study its evolution into the 21st century. The programme will introduce you to the foundations of the English language and its linguistic structure, including sound (phonetics and phonology), structure (syntax) and meaning (semantics), along with discourse, style, and vocabulary. You’ll study sociolinguistics, examining the diversity of English spoken in the UK and around the world, and how the language is learned by children and non-native speakers. You’ll develop and hone your practical skills in transcribing English using the International Phonetic Alphabet, analysing its structure and variations in form, alongside strengthening and deepening your academic writing and critical thinking. Building on research methods learned in your second year, you'll undertake original data analysis for a final-year dissertation, focusing on an area of English Language that interest you most – such as digital communication, language and gender, or communication disorders and speech therapy.