EN-471 Language Variation through Time (Spring 2024)
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Humanities and Education
- Course Leader:
- Allison Louise Wetterlin
- Lecture Semester:
- Spring
- Teaching language:
- English.
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme
- Translation and Professional Communication, Master's programme
- Master's Programme in English
Teaching language
English.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students have
- knowledge of the methods employed in historical linguistics to reconstruct earlier language stages and to compare related languages
- detailed knowledge of the different historical stages of English and the major linguistic changes that characterizes each period
- detailed understanding of a range of approaches to the study of language change
On successful completion of the course, students are able to
- describe and discuss language variation from a diachronic perspective
- understand the mechanisms of and reasons for language variation and change
- analyse and compare language samples of different historical periods
- reconstruct older stages for a set of language data
Contents
Languages are always evolving; new words are added and with every new generation there is opportunity for structural changes. In this course we will look at how the English language has evolved through time. We will learn the methods employed in historical linguistics and how to reconstruct older stages of languages and determine the relatedness of languages. We will also investigate what aspects of languages can change, how and why they change and discuss what this can tell us about language and our language capacity.
Teaching and learning methods
Seminars and group work. Regular and active participation. Estimated workload: Approximately 270 hours.
Examination requirements
Students must have gained a pass grade on one obligatory task in order to be eligible to take the exam. An overview of the obligatory task will be given on Canvas at the start of the term.There is also 70% compulsory attendance in lectures.
Examinations
A take home written examination consisting of essay questions. Graded assessment. More information about the examination will be given on Canvas.
Student evaluation
The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.
Offered as a free-standing course
Yes. Subject to availability or capacity.
Admission Requirement if given as a free-standing course
Same admission requirements apply as for the master's programme in English. Same admission requirements apply as for the master's programme in Translation and Professional Communication.
Admission for external candidates
No.
Reduction of Credits
This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:
| Course | Reduction of Credits |
|---|---|
| EN-419 – Language Variation through Time and Space. | 10 |
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem)
Oct. 15, 2026 10:52:26 AM