Overview
This course will introduce students to the history of English language as it has developed and evolved in England, the United States, and other parts of the world. We will draw from recent developments in the study of dialects, pidgins, and creoles to consider the diversity of English, with some attention given to the history and politics of education, writing pedagogy, and language assessment in Hawai’i. We’ll consider the impact of colonization and globalization on the evolution of English by examining the role of world Englishes. Finally, we will consider some possible pedagogical implications of our readings.
Assignments
Short reading responses, a midterm, and a final exam.
Required Texts:
Pidgin Grammar: An Introduction to the Creole English of Hawaii by Kent Sakoda and Jeff Siegel. Bess Press, 2003.
The History of English: An Introduction by Stephan Gramley. Routledge, 2012.