In this Masters-level hands-on course we examine how new technologies have transformed the editing, analysis and publication of historical texts. We digitally edit and analyse selections of historical texts and focus on real data to make discoveries about culture, society and the history and transmission of the English language. (No advanced computing knowledge is required for this course.)

One two-hour session each week (combining an hour's worth of lecture and an hour of practical classes), plus 4 hours of seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This course may be taught in conjunction with ENGLANG4036, as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the options for the MSc in English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus

ENGLANG4036

Course project (2500 words) - 50%

Essay/review (1500 words) - 25%

Portfolio of technical exercises completed after each practical session - 25%

This course will provide students the opportunity to:

■ enable students to use a range of specialised digital tools and techniques for the study of historical English texts;

■ Select, recognize and apply a wide range of techniques and methodologies of digital editing, digital publication and digital text analysis;

■ Plan, design and execute independent and creative work in the study of historical English texts

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ identify editorial, presentational and textual issues, informed by forefront developments, presented by a range of historical English language texts;

■ mark up historical English language texts in XML;

■ critically evaluate and apply specialised modern digital technologies to historical English language texts for purposes of analysis and digital publication;

■ develop original and creative responses to research questions of appropriate complexity about language, culture and society best answered through digital editing

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.