English Language MA (Hons)

As well as being interested in the study of change in English, we have a strong tradition of investigating different varieties of the language, including Scots, distinct dialects of English, and international variations. The English language has a well-recorded history of more than 1,000 years and its changes can be traced through written materials ranging from medieval manuscripts to text messages, and more recently, through recordings of spoken English. Using techniques from modern linguistics, you will analyse the structure of written and spoken English and will explore how the language has changed in the course of its history. You can also study modern-day varieties of English and Scots and identify the similarities and differences between the features of English and other languages.