Historical Pragmatics
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4343 | English | 4 | N/A | April Full Year UK, Full Year UK, January Full Year UK |
- Code
- ENGL4343
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- N/A
- Semesters
- April Full Year UK, Full Year UK, January Full Year UK
Summary
This pod introduces students to the broad field of historical pragmatics. This is the study of language usage patterns in the past, combining both language-internal as well as language-external factors to understand how forms of discourse have changed throughout history. As a particular case-study, the pod explores the histories of medical and scientific writing. How have (language-external) developments in science and medical culture influenced (language-internal) changes in medical writing? After completing this pod, students will have a greater understanding and appreciation of the linguistic aspects of these particular genres and registers of writing, and also an ability for adapting their knowledge to other genres and styles across history.
Target Students
Students registered on the School of English online masters scheme.
Assessment
- 100% Participation: Student Participation
Assessed by end of designated period
Educational Aims
This module comprises an optional component in the following pathways: Applied English, Applied Linguistics, and Language and Linguistics. As such, it contributes in its specific aims to the programme-level coverage of these pathways.Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate an understanding of the dominant theories of historical pragmatics.
Identify both language-internal and language-external features of genre or register change.
Analyse the nature of genre change in a domain-specific context (for example, scientific or medical discourse, or other discourses from history).
Demonstrate knowledge and skills acquired to the appropriate disciplinary and professional standard.
Assimilate and present subject-specific material in an appropriate format (assessed within the ‘Assessment Portfolio’ 1, 2 or 3).