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Academic Year 2005/2006

History of the English Language
ENGL 286 FA
Crosslistings:
MDST 292
Clusters:

Linguistics

In this course, we will track the development of the English language from Anglo-Saxon to modern English. It is designed to introduce students to historical linguistics, considering English's relationship to Germanic and Romance languages and its Indo-European antecedents. We will use John Algeo's textbook and workbook to begin the work of understanding and applying the rules of phonetics, etymology and other general principles of linguistics. Students will be asked to use their own language as a test; we will consider the arbitrary nature of "correctness" in language and discuss the differences between standard and non-standard language varieties. You will understand the modern English we speak as the product of its complicated political, social, religious and economic history.

MAJOR READINGS

Major readings will be selected from:
Akmajian, et al. LINGUISTICS: AN INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
Graddol, et al. ENGLISH: HISTORY, DIVERSITY, AND CHANGE
Source materials exemplifying varieties of English, as well as shorter critical and theoretical readings.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Several short papers (4-5 pp.), a mid-term exam, and one more extensive project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Non-majors are welcome. Prior knowledge of linguistics is not required.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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