English Language
Although English Language had long been taught as a component of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres a distinct lectureship in the subject was only set up in 1919, with the first appointee being Bruce Dickins (1889-1978).
The Forbes Chair of English Language and General Linguistics was instituted in 1947, with Angus McIntosh (1914-2005) being the first appointee the following year. Following the creation of a discrete Chair of General Linguistics in 1964, the post became the Forbes Chair of English Language.
Following major restructuring of Edinburgh University in 2002, the teaching of English Language was transferred from the Faculty of Arts to the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences of the College of Humanities and Social Science.
Professors of English Language
- 1948-1979: Angus McIntosh (1914-2005)
- 1979-1988: James Peter Thorne (1933-1988)
- 1990-2004: Charles Jones (1939- )
- 2005-2011: April McMahon
- 2013- : Bettelou Los
Sources
- Alexander Falconer Giles, 'The Faculty of Arts', in A. Logan Turner (ed.), History of the University of Edinburgh 1883-1933 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1933), pp. 164-238.
- University Calendar