AJL22066 English World-wide

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Dr. phil. Jakob Heinrich Horsch, B.A., M.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Dr. phil. Jakob Heinrich Horsch, B.A., M.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic concepts and terminology of linguistics in the fields of phonology, morphology and syntax - as taught in the Introduction to Linguistics lecture. Basic knowledge of the history and politics of Anglophone countries around the world.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This seminar is rooted in the linguistic subdiscipline of World Englishes studies. It is geared towards students who are interested in the different varieties of English that are spoken around the world. We will look at differences in phonology (accent/pronunciation) and morphosyntax. Students will also get acquainted with various theoretical models that describe World Englishes, with a particular focus on Schneider's (2003, 2007) Dynamic Model of the Evolution of World Englishes. This is a sociolinguistic model that takes into account the historical, political and societal backgrounds against which varieties evolve. Students will therefore also expand their knowledge of the history and politics of countries of the Anglosphere.
Learning outcomes
After completing this seminar, students will be familiar with the phonological and morphosyntactic differences between the major English varieties and a selection of minor ones. They will be well-acquainted with major sociohistorical aspects of British colonization and the resulting spread of English around the world. Students will also have knowledge of some of the most influential models of World Englishes: their basic tenets, advantages and points of criticism.
Syllabus
  • 1 Introduction: Basic theoretical aspects 2 Historical background: Colonization and decolonization 3 Early Models of World Englishes: Kachru (1985), McArthur (1987), Görlach (1990) 4 The Dynamic Model (Schneider 2003, 2007, 2011) 5 Case study: The Comparative Correlative in World Englishes 6 Research methodology: Finding a research topic and planning a study 7 Student presentations: Canada, South Africa 8 Student presentations: India, Singapore 9 Student presentations: Kenya, Nigeria 10 Student presentations: Barbados, Jamaica 11 Research methodology: How to write a (good) term paper NOTE: Students may choose different countries/varieties for their presentation if desired. The above are just suggestions.
Literature
    required literature
  • SCHNEIDER, Edgar W. English around the world : an introduction. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, xx, 258. ISBN 9780521716581. info
  • SCHNEIDER, Edgar W. Postcolonial English : varieties around the world. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007, xvi, 367. ISBN 9780521539012. info
  • MCARTHUR, Tom. The Oxford guide to world English. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, xiv, 501. ISBN 0198662483. info
    recommended literature
  • The handbook of world Englishes. Edited by Braj B. Kachru - Yamuna Kachru - Cecil L. Nelson. 1st pub. Malden, Mass.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, xix, 811. ISBN 9781405111850. info
Teaching methods
Interactive seminar: Students are expected to participate in class actively. This includes a 15-minute presentation on an English variety of their choice.
Assessment methods
Assessment: Student presentations and a term paper (6000-8000 words) that discusses the linguistic aspects of the variety that was chosen for presentation. Original research using corpus data is welcome but not a prerequisite.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/AJL22066