English Language and Linguistics

Is it just an accident that scientific language is different from, say, the language of advertisements, and that conversation in the real world is different from how people tend to speak in fiction? Or is there something systematic about language and the kinds of purposes we use it for, which we need to understand in order to succeed at university and in professional and social life?

The English Language and Linguistics (ELL) major addresses students' written and spoken literacy needs in English and develops their skills in linguistic analysis. A major in ELL will enhance students' control of their own use of English and equip them to reason about language more broadly. The course teaches crucial skills, like how to unpack technicality in a text, and how to argue linguistically about the ideology that underpins all kinds of texts, whether written, spoken or visual.

The ELL major provides two orientations: a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) orientation, which can lead to a professional qualification in TESOL if further study is undertaken in the Faculty of Education and an English for Professional Purposes orientation.

At 100-level, students are introduced to the functions and features of academic writing and also the context in which this occurs - the western academic tradition (ELL151/181 and ELL152/182). ELL171 introduces further functional linguistic tools and explores a variety of text types. The functional linguistic approach is continued in ELL271 and ELL371, providing students with a comprehensive 'toolbox' for analysing language. The focus is on academic writing, although other text types are considered in order to highlight the effects of different linguistic strategies in various contexts. These grammatically oriented core subjects are complemented by LING210, ELL314 and ELL310, which contextualise the focus language (English), within the global arena.

Major Study

A major in English Language and Linguistics for Non-English Speaking Background students (NESB) consists of 58 credit points and must include 18 credit points at 100-level, 16 credit points at 200-level and 24 credit points at 300-level. A major in English Language and Linguistics for English Speaking Background students (ESB) consists of a minimum of 52 credit points, and must include 12 credit points at 100-level, 16 credit points at 200-level and 24 credit points at 300-level. Students who are uncertain whether they should be in the NESB or the ESB stream must consult the ELL Convenor.

Note: LING210 is counted towards majors in French, Italian, Japanese, and English Language and Linguistics.

Minor Study

A minor in English Language and Linguistics for English Speaking Background students (ESB) will consist of ELL182, ELL171, ELL 271, and LING210 (28 credit points). For non- English Speaking Background students (NESB), the minor will consist of ELL151, ELL152, ELL171, ELL271, and LING210 (34 credit points). Students may not cross-count any subjects from the minor in any other minor or major study.

Honours

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Study Program