LING320-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

History of English

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

This course explores language variation and change, and illustrates these notions through a survey of the way in which English has varied and changed during its recorded history. It will look both at the social history of the language and the linguistic changes that have taken place over the last 1400 years.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will:

- Understand some of the main linguistic changes and developments in English since 500AD
- Use technical terminology to describe the linguistic changes affecting English
- Understand how social factors affected the development of the English Language since 500AD

As a student in this course you will not only acquire subject specific skills, you will also acquire a number of transferrable skills.  For example, by the end of this course you will be able to...  

- Read critically and objectively
- Produce an academic literature review
- Develop analytical skills
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key developments in the history of English
- Write an academic essay
- Meet deadlines

Prerequisites

LING101 and any 15 points at 200 level from any subject.

Restrictions

LING220, ENLA320

Recommended Preparation

Any LING 200 level course

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 14:00 - 16:00 A5 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Workshop A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 13:00 - 14:00 Ernest Rutherford 460
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator

Lynn Clark

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,896.00

International fee $8,525.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All LING320 Occurrences

  • LING320-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026
  • LING320-26S1 (D) Semester One 2026 (Distance)