English as a World Language

This module focuses on the consequences of the spread and development of English as a world language. The changing status of English inevitably brings up new questions about the meaning of English in global and local contexts, and addressing these questions requires a complex understanding of the many different aspects of the worldwide dynamics of the English language — linguistic, cultural, and political — and how they constantly interact. This module will explore these aspects through a combination of readings, discussion, and hands-on research projects, in order to build a critical understanding of the place of English in the modern world and our responsibilities as speakers and users of English.