TARGET AUDIENCE

Aspirants of competitive examinations such as UGC NET and SLET, UPSC and state PSC exams in India

Aspirants of various university and research entrance exams

Regular Bachelors and Masters students of English

Current and aspiring MPhil and PhD research scholars

Teachers of English across school, college and university levels 

MODULE DURATION

40-60 hours (self-paced and flexible learning options)

INTRODUCTION

This course provides a detailed overview of the origins, growth and contemporary status of the English language, tracing its evolution over the centuries.

OBJECTIVES                                                     

1. To provide a historical perspective to the study of the English language.

2. To understand the processes and stages of the transformation and expansion of the language, the building blocks of the language.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After this course, the students should be able to:

1. Understand thoroughly the historical development of the English language.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of major processes involved in the formation, decay, change and expansion of various aspects of language.

3. Understand and apply the key adaptive factors that enable the sustenance and progress of a global language.

MODULE I

THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE

Definitions and Characteristics, Spoken and Written Language, Animal Communication and Human Language, Levels of Language, Language varieties: Dialects, Standard Language, Jargon, Slang, Register.

MODULE II

1. ORIGINS

The Indo-European Family of Languages - Proto Indo European – Eastern and Western Group of PIE – The descent of English from PIE – Common features of PIE languages - English as a Germanic language – Common features - Great consonant shift: Grimm’s Law, Verner’s Law, Great Vowel Shift.

2. OLD ENGLISH

Anglo Saxon invasion, Viking invasion, Wessex Dialect, Vocabulary, Spelling and Pronunciation, Inflection, Word Order, Gender, I Mutation and Vowel Gradation

MODULE III  

MIDDLE ENGLISH

Norman Invasion and its impact, East Midland dialect and Rise of Standard English, Vocabulary, Inflection, Word Order, Spelling Changes, Pronunciation, Gender, Attempts to Reform and Fix Spelling and Usage.

MODULE IV

1. MODERN ENGLISH

The evolution of modern English, General Characteristics of Modern English, Heterogeneous Vocabulary, Simplified Inflectional System, Rigid Word Order, Periphrasis, Intonation, Spelling and Pronunciation, Gender.

2. VOCABULARY, MEANING AND USAGE

Foreign influences / Loan words: Latin, Greek, French, Scandinavian – Influence of the Bible, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, Dictionary and Printing Press - Word Formation Processes: Compounding, Derivation & Root creation - Semantics: Change in meaning, Generalisation, Specialisation, Elevation and Degradation, Extension of Meaning, Denotation, Connotation, Collocation.

MODULE V

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TODAY

Standard English – Received Pronunciation, Received Standard, Modified Standard, Regional standard, The role of BBC , Concept of correctness ; Regional Varieties -  American, Indian, African, Australian; English as a World Language.