English Language and English Literature BA (Hons)

This English Language and English Literature course gives you the opportunity to study two important aspects of the best-described language in the world. You will examine how English works, why and how it is used, and where it has come from. The English Language component of this degree will give you the opportunity to learn about the grammatical structure of English (e.g., how words and sentences are formed), how meaning is made, interpreted and extended across whole discourses, how sounds are formed, produced, and understood, and how language use varies across speakers and groups and how it changes over time. You will also explore the history of English, the development and emergence English dialects and World Englishes, how English is used in society (e.g., how socio-cultural variables shape the use of English) and the role of English in society, in education and as a global lingua franca.
In studying English Literature, you will read and learn to critically analyse a range of English literature in different genres and forms and from across the span of English history, from Anglo-Saxon times to today. You will also develop critical techniques, skills in reading literature and study texts and authors from a wide range of English, British and American literature. Literary works will be studied in different of ways - looking at social or political contexts or taking a more linguistic or stylistic approach.