Why Studying Literature Makes You a Better Communicator

Introduction

The dominance and influence of English on the global stage are evident, leading to a growing need for non-native speakers to learn the language. So much so that the current estimate of non-native English speakers has outnumbered native speakers by a massive margin. It is believed that 19% of the global population speaks English to a coherent extent. Courses like the BA English honours help in establishing a genuine base for understanding and using English for various purposes. 

Brief Understanding Of English Honours

Language is one of the primary instruments of communication among human beings, and for many years, language has been a symbol of pride and identity for as much as the indigenous people, as much as it was to colonial and invading powers. 

As a colonial tool, the English language became the dominant global language, recognised and spoken by more foreigners than all English natives combined. The BA English honours course will shed light on the history of the language, its contemporary position, and the works of various noble and notable Englishmen who have helped immortalise the language.

What Is The Coursework For The BA English Hons Programme?

Bachelor’s of Arts is a discipline that has several specialisations related to the Arts subjects, such as language, visual art, music, etc. Language itself has many variations, and studying the English language similarly requires looking at the language from all sides. The BA English honours course has an initial inclination toward classic literary works over the linguistic aspects, allowing students to develop a robust vocabulary and a level of mastery over the English language. 

• Contextualising English Literature
• Foundations of Western Literature: Classical and Christian Traditions
• Effective Written Communication
• All the World’s a Stage: The Evolution of English Drama
• The Rise of the Novel
• Poetry and Poetics
• Foundations of Aesthetics, Criticism, and Literary Theory
• Modern Indian Poetry in English and Its Renewals
• Why Does Prose Matter?
• Pre-Modern Literary Cultures of India
• Modern and Modernities
• Introduction to Linguistics
• A Survey of American Literature: 17th to 20th Century
• A Global Anglophone Literature

The BA Honours in English is structured to strengthen both language and literature skills, directly supporting the ability to communicate precisely and thoughtfully. By engaging with diverse literary works, students learn how language functions in real scenarios, improving both written and spoken communication. 

What Does The Study Of English Focus On?

The study of English is essentially classified into two parts: literature and language. This is true with learning any language in the world. The language part of English is more technical in terms of understanding the formation of the language, the reasons for certain uses, and its evolution and distortion in the course of its expansion. 

On the other hand, once the basic usage of the language is learnt by heart, one can finally see the beauty of the English literature with meanings and interpretations. For the BA English honours programme, both language and literature play a very significant role. The introduction to linguistics is considered brief, but it tells enough for the students to understand how the English language has developed all the way. 

The Perks Of Studying English Literature

Like any literature, English literature too has a historic, cultural, creative, and emotional side which can only be experienced by going through the various literary works, penned by great authors and poets, known globally. The benefits of studying the English language are plenty, and in the following points, we are going to list a few. 

• Communicating in a new language may seem tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it may even be easier to strike up a conversation without hesitation. 
• The cultural relevance obtained from the English language helps in providing historical context, societal values, individual beliefs, and so on. 
• Perhaps the unique thing about literature is that it tries and often manages to capture the human experience and emotions in art and in words. Hence, the study of literature evokes the empathy of students. 
• The exercise of reading literary pieces can only be fully realised with creative and critical thinking abilities. Readers need to imagine the scenario and be critical of the author’s framework or choice of words. 
• So much of the untapped personal growth and potential can be acquired by improving one’s communication skills. 
• If English is not your mother tongue, then learning this new language may help you gain an English perspective and a global one from a wider perspective. 

The BA English honours programme teaches a wide array of subjects and thus, students are also presented with a wide range of career opportunities right after the graduation ceremony. The English honours degree has much value in the corporate sector as well as in the artistic circles. 

Why Studying Literature Makes You a Better Communicator?

Like every other country, India too has a massive base of non-native English speakers, and all those speaking the language prefer it as their second language. There are roughly 125 million Indians who have been estimated to speak the English language to a permissible extent. 

Nonetheless, to communicate better in any language, literature plays a massive role in shaping the way we think and speak. The BA English honours course further improves the communication skills of students by building fluency, vocabulary, and much more.  

Skills Obtained From The BA English Hons Course

The English Honours course is designed to promote certain hard and soft skills important for playing corporate roles. As a subject of the Arts, critical thinking and the power of interpretation are often considered the primary skills that a student develops. 

The various books and consumption of other art forms, in an environment where discussions about art can be held optimally, allow students to develop proficient communication skills. Technical skills, research are hard skills that may be required for certain job roles and conducting academic research.