English and Linguistics, University of Otago

The third edition of the International Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics has just been published, and it includes two new articles authored by Otago linguists recognised as experts in their fields: "Foreign Language Teaching and Learning" by Minh Thi Thuy Nguyen & W***y A. Renandya, and "Song Texts and Singing Practice" by Simon E. Overall. Congratulations Minh and Simon!

Have you ever wondered what happens to your brain when you read? Check out these three podcast episodes from the BBC, and find out how novels have changed the course of history! (these podcasts are also a great way to continue thinking about literature during the break 😉)

BBC Audio | Understand | How Reading Made Us | Trailer The story of how reading made us and what might happen if we stop - with James Marriott.

Searching for the perfect Semester 2 paper? English and Linguistics have got you covered. Our second semester offerings include:

ENGL128: Essentials of Communication (distance option) (Michael Cop)
ENGL131: Controversial Classics (Jacob Edmond)
LING140: Language, Brain, and Being Human (Hunter Hatfield)

ENGL219: Poetry and Music (Jacob Edmond)
ENGL220: Creative Writing: Reading for Writers (Liz Breslin)
ENGL228: Writing for the Professions (Josie Carter)
ENGL230: Creative Writing for Games and Interactive Media (distance option) (Lisa Blakie)
LING230: Interaction and Identity in Context (Minh Nguyen)
ENGL231: TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching (Minh Nguyen)

ENGL335: Romantics, Revolutionaries, and the Imagination (Thomas McLean)
ENGL353: Reading Minds: Literature and Psychology (Simone Drichel)
ENGL391: Poetry and Music (Jacob Edmond)
LING314: Morphosyntax: Diversity and Unity (Simon Overall)
LING330: Interaction and Identity in Context (Minh Nguyen)

(Words, on the south Arts building staircase, courtesy of Ruth Dallas, “Iceland Poppies”)

Great news: Otago English Masters of Creative Writing candidate Carolijn Guytonbeck has had her digital fiction piece, "Where Scorpions Fear to Tread," accepted for this year's Media Arts Exhibition at the 2026 Electronic Literature Organization conference. You can access the live version below. Congratulations Carolijn!

Where Scorpions Fear to Tread by Bice Grace Lapin A literary advanture. Face fear, save souls and have some fun!

Applications are invited for the 2027 Robert Burns Fellowship– Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier creative writers residency! The residency is open to creative writers normally resident in Aotearoa New Zealand. Early‑ and mid‑career writers are encouraged to apply. Applications close Monday 15 June. Follow the link below for further details!

The Robert Burns Fellowship 2027 Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

First semester classes wrapped up on Friday. Today is a study day; exams begin tomorrow and continue for two weeks. We wish everyone the best for their exams!

Congratulations to Lesley den Toom, who today submitted her PhD thesis, “'To live and lie reclined': The Influence of Epicureanism on British Nineteenth-Century Literature.“ By closely examining works by Tennyson, Bulwer-Lytton, Oscar Wilde, and others, Lesley argues that Epicureanism "offered an alternative model of the good life amid industrial acceleration, religious doubt, and shifting ideals of morality and masculinity." She has been supervised by Professor Thomas McLean and Associate Professor Grace Moore. Well done Lesley!

Yesterday, students in ENGL354 Monsters and Monstrosity in Medieval Literature presented their research in the Humanities Common Room. The day included a medieval-themed afternoon tea, some spontaneous dressing-up, and a lot of really fantastic posters produced by the 50 students in the paper.

Our final seminar for Semester 1 will be held on Friday 29 May at 4pm in Burns 4 and online via zoom. Linguistics PhD student Sukma Septian Nasution will present on his research into incorporating translanguaging practices into the English teaching classroom – title and details are below. Please do come along and support student research in the English & Linguistics Programme!

The English & Linguistics Programme at Otago invites applications for a limited number of fixed-term tutoring positions in Semester 2, 2026. Applicants typically will have completed at least a 4-year degree in English or Linguistics or a related field. Papers that may require tutors are:

ENGL128: Essentials of Communication (Michael Cop)
ENGL131: Controversial Classics (Jacob Edmond)
ENGL219/391: Poetry and Music (Jacob Edmond)
ENGL220: Creative Writing: Reading for Writers (Liz Breslin)
ENGL228: Writing for the Professions (Josie Carter)
ENGL230: Creative Writing for Games and Interactive Media (Lisa Blakie)
ENGL335: Romantics, Revolutionaries, and the Imagination (Thomas McLean)
ENGL353: Reading Minds: Literature and Psychology (Simone Drichel)

LING140: Language, Brain and Being Human (Hunter Hatfield)
LING231: TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching (Minh Nguyen)

Please send a brief email cover letter stating which papers you would consider tutoring to [email protected]
*Applicants who have not tutored in the last 12 months must include a CV along with your cover letter.

Applications should be received by Monday 22 June 2026 at 5PM.

We hope to have most positions confirmed by Monday 29 June. The availability of tutoring positions for any paper is dependent on confirmed student enrolment numbers for that paper.