English is an important language socially, politically and economically. A global language with c.1.5 billion speakers worldwide, English is the best-described language in the world. On this course you will explore how English works, why and how it is used, and where it has come from. You will learn about subjects such as: the grammatical structure (e.g. word order, sounds, meaning); the history of English; dialects and social variation; social, educational and cultural aspects; global English, and more.

On this course you will learn about, understand and interpret many aspects of human language. You will get the opportunity to explore the ways in which people’s language abilities develop, how our language changes according to the context in which it is being used and who is speaking, how language is organized and processed in the brain, how language is learnt and how it is taught. You will look at the way English has changed over the centuries, considering what will become of it in the future, comparing English use in different parts of the globe, and considering important practical aspects of English such as the hundreds of millions of people worldwide learning English as an additional or foreign language. You will learn about linguistics and how language in general can be studied, and you will get the opportunity to compare English with other languages, particularly in the context of multilingual societies where English is not the only language used.

Why choose Bangor for this course?

• Teaching staff are active researchers in a range of theoretical and applied areas relating to the English Language - many have international reputations in the field.
• You will gain a sound and scientific insight into the structure and use of language, its history and the relationship between language and society.
• Our facilities include an extensive collection of books on Linguistics and English Language, recording and experimental equipment, and a language library.

This course will be taught by a combination of lectures, tutorials and/or seminars, depending on the module and level. You will choose 120 credits of modules relating to the English Language each year, where you start by learning the foundational knowledge required to study in this field in the different subdisciplines (year 1), proceeding to more in-depth intermediate-level study (year 2), before choosing what areas to specialize in (year 3). Modules are assessed on the basis of different kinds of coursework, including essays, reports, oral presentations, tests, exams, data analysis, etc. You will do a dissertation in your final year which represents an original research project which you will undertake under the supervision of a research-active member of staff.

Most walks of life benefit from having language experts on their team. As a graduate of this course you will have the knowledge and understanding needed to go into fields like the media, translation, interpreting, publishing, teaching, civil service, speech therapy, community work (e.g. related to language policy and engagement), etc. In some cases you will need further training and qualifications beyond what this course provides. A career in research is also an option, as is postgraduate study.

By studying English Language you can become proficient in understanding how English works, why and how it is used, where it has come from, as well as gaining knowledge in linguistic study.