ENE 5516 The Linguistics of English: Past, Present & Future
This course explores the past, present, and future of English within the universe of human languages and societies. Students will review the major linguistic structures of English (the "present") at all levels of language--phonology, morphology, and syntax--with an eye towards those which are pedagogically useful. After an overview of the ubiquitous processes of language change, students will explore the history of English (the "past") from its Indo-European and Germanic roots through the rise of Modern English in the age of science. Students will then consider the ways in which English is used and therefore varies by ethnicity, class, and gender, within comtemporary society. Students will finally turn to investigating the current status of English as a world language (the "future") and the role of language policy in both core and periphery of the English-speading world.