Ateneo - UPO

Historical background and Language change in Early and Late Modern English: periodisation, historical and social stratification. The main features of Early and Late Modern English (1500-1800): language on the move (spelling, phonology, lexis, morphosyntax); external influences (Latin, Latinate languages, other languages); standardising processes over time. Lexical expansion, lexicographic issues and the encyclopaedic principle: from innovation to codification.

COMPULSORY HANDBOOKS (all the students) - Beal, Joan. 2014. English in Modern Times. Routledge. [1st ed. 2004 Hodder Arnold] - In-depth reading of journal articles on specific topics (see DIR). - Original texts for exemplification and linguistic analysis (see DIR). FURTHER REFERENCES (optional, for self study) - Mugglestone, Lynda. 2012 [2006] The Oxford History of English (updated edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Nevalainen, Terttu. 2006. An Introduction to Early Modern English. Edinburgh University Press. - Smith, Jeremy J. 2007. Sound Change and the History of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Tieken Boon van Ostade, Ingrid. 2014. An Introduction to Late Modern English. Edinburgh University Press.

This 30-hour course is aimed at introducing and discussing Early and Late Modern English, with specific attention to LEXICAL INNOVATION, lexicalisation processes and the LEXICOGRAPHIC PRODUCTION (dictionaries of arts and sciences and dictionaries of trade and commerce). The focus is both on the external history of English (historical and socio-cultural issues), and on language features (phonological, ortographic, lexical and morphosyntactic changes). This course contents and topics, language skills and activities, the final exam, as well as the assessment criteria applied, refer to B2+/C1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).

Language skills at an advanced level: min. B2+, but C1 is preferred (CEFR).

Lectures and practical activities.

This course will be held in the first semester, from October 2025 to January 2026. This course is addressed to 3rd year BA STUDENTS (Laurea Triennale), and to MA STUDENTS (Laurea Magistrale). SYLLABUS VALID UNTIL: Winter Exam Session 2027 (January-February) Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services- students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT + oral presentation Students/Participants will be assigned a topic out of those discussed during the course. The topic/text will be analysed individually (self study) in detail, and handed to the teacher as a written report (about 1000 words). The exam includes the oral presentation of the written report, and the discussion on the contents. Further details will be delivered during the course. The written report counts as 30% of the final grade, the oral presentation as the remaining 70%. With reference to the 'Intended learning objectives' (see below), the following grades correspond to different skills: 18-22/30-sufficient, 23-25/30-satisfying, 26-28/30 good, 29-30 lode-very good. ORAL EXAM ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: 1. appropriate presentation and discussion of topics, notions, and concepts; 2. discourse organisation; 3. lexical richness and accuracy; 4. lexical propriety; 5. lexical variety; 6. detailed text analysis (especially related to spelling variants, phonological system, and morpho-syntax of the varieties examined and discussed); 7. discourse skills.

See ‘Contenuti’.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The methodological approach and the activities carried out (introduction and discussion on the most relevant language features, language change over time, reading of primary sources/variety of text types, linguistic analysis, and historical debate on language issues) will make the students aware of the main and fundamental processes (internal and external to the language) which affected English, and transformed it over time (standardising issues).

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will be able to identify graphic, phonological, lexical, and morphosyntactic issues, as well as analyse, connect and discuss them in historical context (Early and Late Modern English), and in present-day perspective.

Linguistic knowledge and language understanding will be used at a practical level, and applied to the many disciplinary research and professional contexts.