ATS2873 English across time
Faculty of Arts
ATS2873 English across time is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2027 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
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Requisites
Before ATS2873
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2873
No unit lists ATS2873 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Pre-requisites: 12 credit points of level 1 Arts units
Prohibition: ATS3673
Overview
English has been described as one of the most changing and hybrid languages of all times, and in this unit you will delve into the history of the language from the earliest written records to the present day. You begin by scrutinising attitudes towards language change, as well as the motivations and mechanisms that drive the changes, including social, cultural and political factors. All aspects of the linguistic system evolve, and you will analyse changes to English sounds (phonology), vocabulary (lexicon), meanings of words (semantics), structure of words (morphology), sentence structure (syntax) and spelling (orthography). Through examination of both literary and non-literary texts, you will traverse the eras of Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English, illuminating key linguistic shifts across these periods. Under the spotlight will also be the history and development of Standard English and the controversies surrounding its creation and its current status.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Short answer exercisesExercise20%
- Analytical exerciseExercise25%
- Essay or research reportWritten25%
- Quiz (open book)Quiz / Test30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
describe the major structural changes in the history of English;
- 2
identify the sociohistorical context for these changes;
- 3
discuss the effects of language contact on English;
- 4
analyse language data with respect to the evolution of sounds, vocabulary and grammar;
- 5
explain the major processes of language standardisation, focusing on the development of Standard English;
- 6
illustrate the effects of globalisation and e-communication on current-day English, supported by relevant scholarly sources.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS2873 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2027 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Kathryn Burridge
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Kathryn Burridge
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2873?
ATS2873 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2873 offered?
In 2027, ATS2873 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2873?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2873 have an exam?
No. ATS2873 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2873?
ATS2873 is part of Linguistics and English language.