BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to provide students with knowledge of the main developments in the history of the English language.
At the end of the course, students should be able to discuss such topics at at least a C1 level.
Course Prerequisites
Students following this course must have a linguistic competence of at least B2 level.
Please note that, according to propaedeutic rules, before taking the 3rd-year English Language exam students must have passed the 2nd-year English Language exam.
Teaching Methods
The course is taught in English.
The course will be based on lectures, which will also include some individual and group workshop activities. Special attention will be given to debate, as students are encouraged to suggest topics for further analysis.
Students who are unable to attend regularly are expected to study the contents of the reference book(s) with great accuracy.
The 54-hour module does not comprise practice sessions for the computer-based test; however, students are strongly advised to attend both the activities planned by the CCL for their level of competence and any tutoring activities on offer throughout the year. For information: https://www.unibg.it/studia-noi/ti-aiutiamo/apprendimento-linguistico/inglese/inglese-llcs.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of two parts: computer-based test and oral exam. In order to access the oral exam, students will have to pass (with at least 60% of correct answers) the computer-based test.
The computer-based test assesses listening, reading and translation skills, together with lexical and morpho-syntactic competence at a C1 level. An example is available on the e-learning pages. The test is valid for 18 months. Students who already have a C1 or higher EFL language certificate validated by the Students Office are exonerated from the computer-based test. For information: https://dllcs.unibg.it/it/studiare/corsi-studio/certificazioni-linguistiche.
The oral exam consists in a discussion in English of the course topics.
The assessment will be based on knowledge of course contents, but will also take into account the candidate’s linguistic competence as far as lexis, grammar, phonology and pragmatics are concerned.
Contents
The course illustrates the main stages in the development of the English language from Old English to the twentieth-century.
Special attention will be placed on the evolution of the phonological, morpho-syntactic, lexical and pragmatic features of the English language and on social and geographical variation.
Online Resources
More information
Reading List - Attending Students
Mandatory texts:
- Gramley, S. 2019. The History of English: An Introduction. Second edition. London and New York: Routledge. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12.
- Tieken-Boon van Ostade, I. 2022. "Grammar and grammars". In: An Introduction to Late Modern English. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 76–99.
- Beal, J. C. 2008. "Pronouncing Dictionaries - I Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries". In: A. P. Cowie (ed.), The Oxford History of English Lexicography. Volume II: Specialized Dictionaries, pp. 149–175.
- Beal, J. C. 2016. "Standardisation". In: M. Kyto and P. Pahta (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of English Historical Linguistics. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 301–317.
- Lectures slides and additional material posted on the course's Moodle page.
Recommended texts:
- Burnley, D. 2000. The History of the English Language. A Source Book. Second edition. Oxon and New York: Routledge.
- Crystal, D. 2005. The Stories of English. London: Penguin Books.
Reading List - Non-Attending Students
Mandatory texts:
- Gramley, S. 2019. The History of English: An Introduction. Second edition. London and New York: Routledge. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12.
- Singh, I. 2013. The History of English. A Student's Guide. London and New York: Routledge.
- Tieken-Boon van Ostade, I. 2022. "Grammar and grammars". In: An Introduction to Late Modern English. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 76–99.
- Beal, J. C. 2008. "Pronouncing Dictionaries - I Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries". In: A. P. Cowie (ed.), The Oxford History of English Lexicography. Volume II: Specialized Dictionaries, pp. 149–175.
- Beal, J. C. 2016. "Standardisation". In: M. Kyto and P. Pahta (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of English Historical Linguistics. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 301–317.
Recommended texts:
- Burnley, D. 2000. The History of the English Language. A Source Book. Second edition. Oxon and New York: Routledge.
- Crystal, D. 2005. The Stories of English. London: Penguin Books.