Are all varieties of English equal? Do men speak differently from women? How can you influence other people through the way you use language? Why do people sometimes fail to understand each other? Does it matter that over 3000 languages may die by the end of the twenty-first century? If questions like this interest you, this popular and challenging subject may be the one for you.

Language is an ever-evolving phenomenon. Its usage may differ depending on who you are, to whom you are talking, what media you are using, in what situation you find yourself and what you are trying to achieve. How we use language at any given point in our lives defines us, in many respects, both individually and as a nation, and this makes it a fascinating and highly relevant area of study.

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In the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics at Reading, our programmes in English Language take you on a journey through theoretical and applied areas of language study, enabling you to see how English is used as a social, stylistic, economic and political tool on the world stage. You will explore theories of language in the contemporary world, and learn how to apply this knowledge to the solution of real-world problems: at work, at play, in relationships, in the media, in education, in politics. You will examine the role of languages in creating individual and social identity, the growth of English as an international language, and current developments in English language teaching and learning. Ultimately, our goal is to enable you to become consummate English language analysts and users, through gaining a thorough understanding of how and why English varies in different settings and for different purposes.

We offer the following courses:

• BA English Language and Linguistics (Q310)

Joint programmes we offer are as follows:

• BA English Language and Literature (Q301)
• BA French Studies and English Language (QR31)
• BA German Studies and English (QR3F)
• BA Italian Studies and English Language (QR3H)
• BA Spanish Studies and English Language (QR34)

Find out more about our programme modules here:

• Browse our Modules