Undergraduate Course: The Isle of Man: Language, Culture and History (CELT10032)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Celtic |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
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| Course description |
The course charts the historical and social developments that affect the Isle of Man from early historic times to the present, with particular emphasis on the linguistic situation and its changes at various points during this period. This includes the evaluation of the island's position as a medieval power-centre in the Irish Sea and the subsequent developments that led to its relative cultural isolation from Gaelic Ireland and Scotland after it became a feudal fiefdom whose cultural and administrative orientation lay increasingly towards England. The cultural dominance of its larger neighhbour is also of significance in the modern period, as evidenced particularly in the acceleration of language decline in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A key aspect of the course is the discussion of selected primary texts in translation that illustrate the historical and social environment at its key stages and in particular the impact of this environment on language and culture.
The course also offers scope for comparison with Gaelic Scotland, for instance in the genres of folktales and traditional songs. In addition, the course examines the recent upsurge of interest in the Manx language as well as the extent to which this is supported by educational and administrative frameworks. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
Please note pre-requisite requirements as stated above. Visiting students will be expected to demonstrate an equivalent level of competency in the Gaelic language and/or knowledge of Celtic civilisation/literature.
Entry to this course is at the discretion of the Course Organiser and will be arranged on a case by case basis by the Visiting Student Office in consultation with the department. |
| Prospectus website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The Intended Learing Outcomes are the development of a sound knowledge of the key developments in the spheres of language, culture, society and history during the period under consideration. There will be particular emphasis on the links that exist between language and identity, and on the ways in which external and internal forces impact on such links at different periods. This will include the application of a number of different interdiscipinary approaches in order to evaluate the types of evidence that need to be employed for a full understanding of the subject-matter of the course. The subject of language decline and revival in particular is currently a much-debated issue in other linguistic contexts and the Manx situation offers considerable scope for comparison, expecially in the field of language planning.
The course material will present some challenges to students as it will involve a variety of texts from different historical periods demanding different methodological and intellectual approaches but will build on and expand the skills generally stressed within Celtic and Scottish Studies. |
Assessment Information
| Essay and written summary of presentation (25% each): 50%. Degree examination (2 hours): 50%. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr A Gunderloch
Tel: (0131 6)51 1374
Email: A.Gunderloch@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Dr Christina Strauch
Tel: (0131 6)50 3622
Email: c.a.strauch@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 5:40 am
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