Institutt for kultur- og språkvitenskap
Universitetet i Stavanger

Module: MLI 315_1

SEMINAR:
ENGLISH WRITING: FUNCTION, FORM AND CHANGE

Oliver M. Traxel, Kjetil Thengs

Spring 17

Seminar: Wd 9-12
Room: HG O-103


SCHEDULE

Here you find the provisional lecture schedule for this seminar. The suggested topics are by no means final and are subject to adaptation during the course of the semester. The main textbooks are Barton, David. 2007. Literacy: An Introduction to the Ecology of Written Language. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, and Cook, Vivien. 2004. The English Writing System. London: Arnold. The respective chapter numbers are indicated in the schedule. Any further listed publications are found in the Bibliography. You are encouraged to read these before each session.

The main requirement for this course is the submission of coursework. Possible topics will be available on It's Learning on the date provided below. All students are expected to give brief presentations about their chosen essay topic (15 minutes each). These are due to start after reading week. There are also three separate supervision sessions for each student which are organised individually. You are expected to hand in some written work before these sessions.

Week    Date                        Topic                                                                                                                                                   Reading               
       
2 Wd 11.1. [Kjetil Thengs]
Topic 1: Writing.
What is Writing?
Definitions and Proto-Writing.
The Origins and Development of Writing. 		Barton 8;
Coulmas.
3 Wd 18.1. [Kjetil Thengs]
Topic 2: Writing and Speech.
The Functions of Writing.
Written vs. Spoken language - How Do They Differ?
Characteristics of Writing and Speech.
Genres and Registers. 		Barton 5, 6;
Cook 2.
4 Wd 25.1. Topic 3: Different Kinds of Writing Systems.
Preliminaries.
Major Types of Writing Systems.
The Chinese Writing System.
The Japanese Writing System.
Some Pre-Alphabetic Systems.
Development of the Alphabetic System. 		Barton 7;
Cook 1.1, 6.1.
5 Wd 1.2. Continuation of Topic 3.
Topic 4: The English Writing System.
Characteristics of the English Writing System.
Spelling and Phonology. 		Barton 7;
Cook 1.1, 3.1-3.2, 6.1.
6 Wd 8.2. Continuation of Topic 4. Cook 1.1, 3.1-3.2.
7 Wd 15.2. Topic 5: Some Shorter Topics.
Processing Written Language.
Punctuation.
Writing Materials.
The Runic Alphabet in Britain.
Distribution of Essay Topics. 		Cook 1.2, 4, 6.1;
Graddol 2.1-2.2.
7 Fr 17.2. [on It's Learning]
Choice of Essay Topics.
Attribution of Supervisors.
Organisation of Supervisions Sessions. 		 
8 Mo/Tu 20.2./21.2. First Supervision Sessions [before Reading Week].  
8 Wd 22.2. Topic 6: The Anglo-Saxon Period.
English Language History.
Anglo-Saxon History.
Textual Evidence from Anglo-Saxon England.
Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts.
Anglo-Saxon Scripts.
The Beowulf-Manuscript.
The Sounds of the Old English Alphabet. 		Cook 6.2;
Graddol 2.3;
Smith & Stenroos.
8 Fr 24.2. [on It's Learning]
Organisation of student presentations. 		 
9 Reading Week no class  
10 Wd 8.3. Continuation of Topic 6.
Topic 7: The Middle English Period.
The Historical Background.
The Linguistic Situation after the Norman Conquest.
Spelling in the Middle English Period.
Pronunciation in the Middle English Period.
Some Middle English Texts and Manuscripts.
Student presentations.
Rida Ei Arkoubi.
Daniel Valderrama Arrabal.
Rasmus Husebø. 		Clanchy;
Cook 6.2-6.3;
Graddol 2.3-2.4;
Smith & Stenroos.
11 Wd 15.3. Continuation of Topic 7.
Student presentations.
Sheenalyn Alcones.
Katarzyna Kupczyk.
Annjolie Tho Bergtun. 		Clanchy;
Cook 6.3;
Graddol 2.4;
Smith & Stenroos.
12 Wd 22.3. Topic 8: From Early Modern English to Modern English.
The Historical Background.
Printing in the Early Modern English Period.
Spelling in the Early Modern English Period.
Proposed Spelling Reforms.
Pronunciation in the Early Modern English Period.
Student presentations.
Natela Chokheli-Losnegård.
Elizaveta Nosaova.
Eyasu Alemie. 		Cook 6.4;
Graddol 2.5-2.6, Appendices.
13 Wd 29.3. Continuation of Topic 8.
Topic 9: Variation in the English Writing System.
Regional Varieties.
Novel Spellings.
Computer-Mediated Communication.
Student presentations.
Tahire Hairetdin.
Janine Hegetschweiler.
Karina Meindinyo. 		Cook 6.4, 7;
Graddol 2.5-2.6, Appendices.
13 Fr 31.3. [on It's Learning]
Deadline for initial written work.
Organisation of supervisions sessions. 		 
14 Mo/Tu 3.4./4.4. Second supervision sessions [before Easter Week].  
14 Wd 5.4. Continuation of Topic 9.
Student presentations.
Vibha Rimal.
Henrik Søyland Waage.
Seyed Abbas Moazam Moosavi. 		Cook 7.
15 Easter Week no class  
18 Mo 1.5. [on It's Learning]
Deadline for fairly complete draft of written work.
Organisation of supervisions sessions. 		 
18 Th/Fr 4.5./5.5. Third supervision sessions [before submission].  
21 Wd 24.5. Submission of coursework.  


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