ENGL 564
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Catalog Entry
English 564. The History of the English Language
Three hours lecture (3).
History and development of English language from its origins to present
Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. The origins of the English language
a. The Indo-European language family
b. The Germanic language group
c. The history and consequences of the arrival of Germanic tribes in Britain
2. The Old English period, A.D. 450-1100
a. Important dates
b. Important literary and historical figures
c. Major phonological, morphological, syntactic features of Old English
3. The Middle English period, A.D. 1100-1500
a. Important dates
b. Important literary and historical figures
c. Major changes from Old English; major phonological, morphological, syntactic features of Middle English
4. The evolution of Modern English, A.D. 1500-
a. Important dates
b. Important literary and historical figures
c. Major changes from Middle English; major phonological, morphological, syntactic features of Modern English
d. The evolution of distinct varieties of English, including
(1) British English, including Standard (RP) English and regional and class dialects
(2) Scottish and Irish English
(3) The varieties of American English, including Standard American English, Black English, and Appalachian English
(4) Australian and other Commonwealth varieties
(5) Pidgins, creoles, and other varieties of English as an international language
5. Important approaches to the study of language change and variation
a. Morphology
b. Phonology
c. Syntax
d. Semantics
6. Possibilities for the future development of the English language
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
1. Students read selected texts on the history of English and on linguistic analysis (e.g. McCrum, Cran, and McNeil, The Story of English; Machan and Scott, English in Its Social Contexts; Williams, Origins of the English Language). They may also view videotapes on the history of English (e.g. the "Story of English" series initially broadcast on PBS).
2. Format: combination of lecture and discussion led by the instructor
3. Written requirements may include
a. Frequent written homework assignments (to be discussed in class afterwards), in which students are asked to respond to readings and videotapes, or to attempt to solve problems related to the history of the English language
b. Quizzes and examinations, including problem-solving and other essay questions
c. A summing-up essay
Goals and Objectives of the Course
A central goal of this course is to make students more thoughtful and skillful users of the English language by making them more knowledgeable about the way in which the English language has developed. Students are expected to become familiar with the history of the English-speaking peoples and the ways in which that history has influenced the development of the language; they are also expected to acquire a general familiarity with the terminology of grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) in order to be able to understand and describe the changes that have taken place in the language.
Assessment Measures
Since much of the information presented in this course is more technical or "objective" than the material covered in a literature course, the assessment of students' progress in this course depends somewhat less on extended written assignments and more on shorter, more focused assignments. Written homework assignments, especially specific problems, give students the opportunity to practice thinking like historical linguists; tests and examinations consisting of short answers, problem-solving exercises, and more extended responses to larger problems give students the opportunity to demonstrate their grasp of specific concepts as well as their ability to apply those concepts on a larger scale.
Other Course Information
None
REVIEW AND APPROVAL
DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
March 1999
