SEL3046 : English Grammar through Time (Inactive)
SEL3046 : English Grammar through Time (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr William van der Wurff
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEL1027 | Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology |
Pre Requisite Comment
SEL1027 or equivalent
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
The aim of this module is for students to acquire a good knowledge of the main changes that have affected the grammar of English during its history. This will include an understanding of the mechanisms by which these changes have come about and their possible causes. Students will also learn how to collect data for the study of grammatical change in English and to critically assess and evaluate current research in the field.
Outline Of Syllabus
The themes to be covered in the lectures (further discussed/applied in the seminars) will include changes in the structure of NPs, the elements in the verb group, the forms of clausal constituents such as subjects and objects, word order and subordinate clauses, as well as various practical and theoretical issues involved in the study of such changes. There will be some discussion of developments in grammar at medieval stages of the language (Old and Middle English), but there will be a stronger focus on changes in more recent times (the period 1500-today).
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
Students that have successfully completed the module
1. know what main changes English grammar has undergone through time
2. have an understanding of the main ideas about the how and why of grammatical change
3. are acquainted with methods of textual analysis for grammatical purposes
4. have some awareness of the possibilities and limitations of corpus work on the history of English grammar
Intended Skill Outcomes
Students that have successfully completed the module
1. are able to identify the grammatical properties of historical English texts
2. are able to assess the value of analyses of grammatical change in English
3. are able to locate historical texts in digital format and explore them grammatically
4. are able to present research findings in writing
5. are able to understand and produce figures, tables, and graphs
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 53:00 | 53:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 84:00 | 84:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEL8329 | Diachronic Syntax |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures will introduce the material listed under the Knowledge Outcomes. In the seminars, this material will be further discussed and illustrated with reference to actual texts and published studies of such texts, contributing further to the Knowledge Outcomes and practising the Skills Outcomes.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 50 | N/A |
| Essay | 1 | A | 50 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Rationale will be detailed in the module handbook.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL3046's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- SEL3046's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
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The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2025 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
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