The aim of the course is to give the participants an overall picture of the principles of the study of words. We shall begin by looking at the varieties of English (e.g. geographical, dialectal, social, formal, informal, slang, technical, pejorative) and how these are reflected on the level of vocabulary. The labelling of the different types of variety in dictionaries will also be discussed. After this, the course moves on to examine the main sources of English vocabulary (techniques of word-formation, foreign adoptions). Next, aspects of meaning will be addressed, including the ways in which the meanings of words change along dimensions such as gender (e.g. guy, certain articles of clothing) and pejoration (e.g. idiot, imbecile, moron). We shall finally discuss larger structures pertaining to the lexicon. These may be either paradigmatic relations (e.g. synonymy, polysemy, antonymy, lexical fields, lexical sets) or syntagmatic ones (e.g. collocations).

Course work includes regular attendance of the weekly sessions, homework assignments (practical exercises relating to various aspects of vocabulary), and an essay on a specific topic relating to the study of words.