History and Varieties of English

What this unit covers

The resources fall into two broad groups: how English has changed over time, and how it varies today. Much of the material is built around language change, with mind maps, flashcards and quizzes on theories, key terms and contextual factors.

Start with the timeline

Begin with the flowchart English Language Timeline, which moves from Old English, when Germanic tribes arrived in England, onwards. Then look at the mind map THREE MOMENTS OF ENGLISH (OLD, MIDDLE AND MODERN) and the Early Modern English (1476-1776) mind map. For dates to learn, the flashcard decks Important Dates for Language History and Language Change Timeline are useful.

Theories and attitudes

Once you have the periods in mind, move to ideas about why language changes. The Language change theories mind map covers language decay, Jean Aitchison and the damp-spoon syndrome. Language Change Theorists looks at Norman Fairclough and the idea that spoken language drives change in writing. The flashcards on Standardisation in the 18th century set prescriptivists and descriptivists side by side, including Dr Samuel Johnson and his dictionary. Related maps look at power and at political correctness as a kind of liberal prescriptivism.

Varieties of English

For variation, try the Language Variety flashcards, which include Peter Trudgill's Norwich study and migrants in Milton Keynes. The page also has maps and slides on regional and world Englishes, such as Hiberno-English, Sri Lankan English and Scottish English.

Using quizzes and maps together

1. Read a mind map to get the overview.
2. Take a quiz, such as American English vs. British English or Language change theorist, to see what stuck.
3. Return to the flashcards for anything you missed.

Some resources mention A-level English Language and WJEC English Language LG4, so check them against your own course. This unit sits in the Linguistics, Culture and Language Teaching strand of English language. Choose one map today and see how far it takes you.