Philology and Global English Studies ― Retracings

This book retraces the formation of modern English Studies by departing from philological scholarship along two lines: in terms of institutional histories and in terms of the separation of literary criticism and linguistics. It is argued that the full potential of the discipline's global scope and pluralistic formation can only be realized by departing further from philology rather than returning to it – and that this is possible only by engaging with philology rather than by forgetting it.

Part 1 outlines both the complexities of and some of the coherent features of philological scholarship. Part 2 examines historical accounts of the discipline's moves away from philology in several institutional contexts (UK, USA, India, post-1990 EU). Part 3 explores the gradual bifurcation of English linguistics and literary studies, departing concurrently from philology and from each other. The extent to which these aspects of English Studies may usefully develop hereafter in a mutually-regarding but distinct fashion is considered.

Suman Gupta is Professor of Literature and Cultural History at the Open University UK. Recent books include The Theory and Reality of Democracy, Social Constructionist Identity Politics and Literary Studies, Globalization and Literature, Imagining Iraq, and Consumable Texts in Contemporary India.