Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Language Change
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Eng Lang and Linguistics
Module Code	09 29697
Module Lead	Amanda Patten
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-10 hours Practical Classes and workshops-10 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	In this module, students gain a deeper understanding of how and why languages change and how historical language research is conducted. We explore the development of recent as well as historical changes to the English language, occurring throughout the language system: grammar, morphology, word meaning, and phonology. We consider how and why innovations take place; the relationship between language change and language variation; and the spread of change throughout the speech community. Students are introduced to processes of language change e.g. grammaticalization. We discuss the difficulties and limitations of historical language research. This includes an examination of the use of electronic corpora as a tool for investigating language change and the new research field of historical sociolinguistics. Students engage with recent and seminal literature in language variation and change and gain practical experience of using historical language corpora.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of how languages change over time and how linguistic changes spread through populations. Demonstrate understanding of the research methods applied in historical language research Demonstrate an appreciation of the limitations of, and the recent advances in, historical language research Demonstrate an appreciation of changing attitudes to and theories of language change
Assessment	29697-01 : Assignment One : Coursework (50%) 29697-02 : Assignment Two : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 2000 word essay (50%); 1 x data analysis project (presentation of data + 1000 word report - 50%) Reassessment: Resubmission of failed component(s)
Other
Reading List