Description
Since its publication in 1926, “Fowler” has developed into a household name. Two revised editions of Modern English Usage have appeared (1965, 1996), and this year, the first edition is reissued in the Oxford World’s Classics series with an introduction by David Crystal. Yet the book is a controversial publication: it is either hailed as a most useful guide to linguistic correctness or it is despised because of its aim to impose a norm of correctness on the language user. Why is this the case? Why was Fowler so popular ? How influential were his prescriptions on actual usage? How prescriptive were they to begin with? These are questions we will deal with during the course. Fowler was part of a tradition that has its origins during the final stage of the standardisation process of the English language, i.e. prescription, and it is striking to see that many of the strictures he dealt with were already 150 years old. The question is whether attitudes to these strictures changed over the years and to what extent they are still similar today. Work done during the course will contribute to a database on usage problems that is in the process of being compiled, each of which, as we will discover, has its own little history.
Teaching method
Two-hour seminar per week.
Admission requirements
Interest in language and sociolinguistics, and basic linguistic skills
Course objectives
This course aims to give students further insight into the final stages of the standardisation process of the English language. Building on insights gained during BA programmes in English language and literature studies, particularly in relation to developments in the history of the language, a critical and objective approach will be adopted that will enable students to study topical questions in normative linguistics, such as different views on issues of prescriptivism. After completion of the course, students will be well equipped to write a master’s thesis in a topic of central interest to normative linguistics.
Required reading
Fowler’s Modern English Usage, reprinted in the Oxford World’s Classics series (2009).
McMorris, Jenny. 2001. The Warden of English. The Life of H.W. Fowler. Oxford: University Press (very cheaply available through Amazon or Barnes & Noble).
Test method
Presentation and active course participation (30%), final essay (70%).
Time table
The timetable will be available from June 1st on the Internet.
Information
English Department, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c. Phone: 071 527 2144, or by mail: English@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Registration
Students can register through U-twist before 15 July. After 15 July students can only register through the Departmental Office.
Blackboard
This course is supported by Blackboard.