Current staff interests embrace many diverse areas of English Language study, the uniting focus of which is  the building and manipulation of linguistic corpora, and research around these.  For the purposes of linguistic enquiry, corpora can be defined in broad terms as including a spectrum of collections of data ranging from large-scale electronic holdings allowing of quantitative analysis to databases of more variously held large-scale materials designed for qualitative scrutiny.  This corpus-driven endeavour is in tune with the wider focus of much current Language research, and coincides with linguistic research elsewhere in the University.  Members of the Corpus-based Language Group are also participants in the University-wide Language, Linguistics and Translation Research Network

English Language is a compulsory part of the undergraduate course in English Language and Literature, where it is studied both for its own sake and in order to inform the proper understanding of literature. Undergraduates from other disciplines can also take elective modules in English Language. There are many modules in English Language in the Undergraduate programmes. The School currently offers an MA (full time or part time) in English Language. There are also English Language options available in the department's MA in English Literature. For more details of teaching which might be offered, see the biographical notes on the members of staff who specialise in this area.

 

Undergraduate Study

At undergraduate level the School offers several core modules depending on which degree programme you have chosen, plus a selection of more specialist options. Visit the Programmes section of the School website for further information on degree-scheme structures. For a full list of available core and option modules, see the Modules section.

Postgraduate Study

The one-year (two years part-time) MA in English Language offers a range of specialist modules. A valuable higher degree scheme in its own right, this team-taught MA is also designed to provide an excellent foundation for students who wish to go on to pursue research in this area at MPhil and PhD levels. Applications for PhD and MPhil research-degree study are welcome in all areas covered by the staff working in this area. See individual staff profiles for further information.