This course traces the English language from its Indo-European and Germanic origins to its current world language status. Students will explore contacts with other languages, and the social forces behind those contacts. We will also address the question of whether English constitutes one language or many. Other areas of interest will be the role of language in culture and identity, the function of language as a cognitive technology, and the role of colonialism and neo-colonialism in the history and possible future of English.
- Enseignant: Rodger Wilkie