HAs in English Language and LinguisticsHAs in English Language and Linguistics

The RationaleThe Rationale

Dr Carmen Arnáiz

Why these awards?

• Increased popularity of English Language at A-level (AQA alone had 12552 candidates in 2003)

• Over 700 applicants a year to UWE have English Language A-level; 120 have AS-level English language

• In the South-West of England, English Language is only available at one local HEI, namely Plymouth

• Consistent popularity of the current Linguistics HA (appr. 40 students per year)

Why these awards?

• Regular student enquiries about the possibilities of combining Linguistics with English Language

• Attractive to students of English Literature• Attractive to overseas students wishing to obtain

in-depth knowledge of English language in a wider sense

• Attractive to students with non-traditional backgrounds

Aims of the HA (English Language)

• Equip students with knowledge and understanding of – English Language in its own right, variations

across the globe, role of English in the modern world, past, present and future of English

– Textlinguistics and discourse analysis– Teaching of English as a foreign language,

intercultural communication

Aims of the HA (Linguistics)

• Give an introduction into different areas of core Linguistics

• Offer the opportunity to obtain an in-depth knowledge of specific aspects of Linguistics. (Phonology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics, Applied Linguistics, Language Acquisition, Sociolinguistics, Bilingualism and Language Contact).

Aims of both HAs

• Equip students with the appropriate linguistic tools and metalanguage to describe and analyse English

• Develop throughout the Award a range of generic skills, subject/professional and practical skills, transferable skills

• To represent a coherent progression from the existing A Level English Language

Structure of the Awards

Level 1 (English Language)– English in the modern world– Introduction to Textlinguistics

Level 1 (Linguistics)– Introduction to Linguistics 1: Language and

Communication – Introduction to Linguistics 2: Sociolinguistic

and Stylistic variation

Differences between HAs

• HA Linguistics :– focus on core Linguistics (Syntax, Morphology,

Phonology, Semantics and Pragmatics)– different specialist strands (Sociolinguistics,

Language Acquisition, Language and Humour)

• HA English Language: – focus on English– Textlinguistics and discourse– TESOL

Career prospects

• The HA English Language offers students the possibility of discovering their suitability for a career in TESOL.

• Other major career options for both HAs:– business services sector, in the UK and

abroad; public administration; communications; publishing; media; education; law; marketing, hotels, leisure and tourism.