LAST UPDATE: JAN 27 [NEWS: APR 20]
ENG 590:
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Linguistics
Section, Department of English Studies, University of Cyprus
http://www.punksinscience.org/kleanthes/courses/UCY05S/HOTEL
DESCRIPTION
All languages change over time and the English language is no exception. In this course, we will track some of the linguistic changes English has undergone from its inception to today (and possibly beyond), including changes in word and sentence structure, lexicon and meaning, and the sound system. We will look at the major periods of the English language (including its external history), from Old English (ca. 450 to 1066 AD) via Middle English (ca. 1066 to 1450) and Early Modern English (ca. 1450 to 1700) to Modern Standard English (since 1700). We will also consider non-standard varieties of English throughout its history as well as English-based pidgins and creoles. Along the way we will not only consider pre-English origins (pre-historic Indo-European origins and the 2nd century Germanic ancestor language), but also look at the present (accents and dialects, "World Englishes") and at the future — to the extent possible (incl. some very recent developments, such as "netspeak").
ASSESSMENT
Regular attendance is strongly
advised! Besides the class lectures, there
will be:
1. a presentation of a topic from the history of English |
(20%) |
2. the improved handout of your in-class presentation |
(30%) |
3. one term paper on any aspect of English linguistics |
(50%) |
4. presence & active participation in class throughout |
(±x...) |
READINGS
There are no required texts — all classes will be accompanied by handouts.
A wonderful read
complementing the course is
the excellent Crystal (2004) —
discounted at Moufflon!—
and Crystal (2003) is simply a must-have for every student of the English language!
Crystal,
David. 2003. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language [second edition]. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. [paperback, available from
Moufflon discounted for CYP 21.00]
Crystal, David. 2004. The Stories of English. London: Penguin. [hardcover,
available from Moufflon: CYP 21.00]
In addition, I
put a number of readings on reserve in the library for short-term
loan. Further references are
provided under literature
below. Feel free to browse them and look for your own reading material relevant to your class presentation and/or
your term paper!
OVERVIEW
|
|
MONDAY |
THURSDAY |
|
WEEK 1 |
course introduction – incl. all formalia
– |
historical linguistics language families |
|
WEEK 2 |
Indo-European & Proto-Germanic |
The Emergence of English |
|
WEEK 3 |
Old English |
Old English |
|
WEEK 4 |
Old English |
PRESENTATIONS |
|
WEEK 5 |
PRESENTATIONS [WEEK 13!] |
PRESENTATIONS [WEEK 13!] |
|
WEEK 6 |
From Old English... |
...to Middle English |
|
WEEK 7 |
Middle English |
Middle English |
|
WEEK 8 |
Middle English |
PRESENTATIONS |
|
WEEK
9 |
Corpus Linguistics... |
...and Middle English |
|
WEEK 10 |
Early Modern English |
Early Modern English |
|
WEEK 11 |
Early Modern English |
PRESENTATIONS |
|
WEEK 12 |
Pidgins and Creoles |
Pidgins and Creoles |
|
WEEK 13 |
Modern English(es) |
Modern English(es) |
PARTICULARS
This
course will be dense in terms
of external history of English and discussion of linguistic phenomena — consequently, you should read quite a lot for maximum effect. In addition:
presentation You'll
prepare a topic from the history of English and present it in class with a brief handout (20-25 minutes plus discussion). Presentation groups will be set up in the first week, the topics by the end of the third week (= by FEB 10).
handout With feedback from your classmates and myself
after your presentation, you have up to one week to revise your handout and
extend it a bit. This version will be graded. The presentation/handout groups
can be up to five students.
paper Your
term paper of up to three collaborators should be a piece of research in which
you identify an issue and pursue it from all angles in an appropriate academic
manner: it should be properly structured, fully illustrated, well argued, and so
on. The length is up to you: if it's really good and to the point, a short
paper is fine (4-6 pp.), but I also accept a 10- or 15-page paper (or anything
else you come up with). Take your term paper seriously and start working on it
early on, possibly in tandem with your presentation.
LITERATURE
This is an extensive
list of readings for
the history of the English language. Those marked with an asterisk * are
particularly good or relevant. I only include books that are available in the library; boldfaced
books are or will hopefully soon be on short term loan. Feel free to browse the library
catalogue or the internet for more references, especially when it comes to preparing your class
presentation or writing your term paper.
General
History of English
Bailey,
R.W. 1991. Images of English: A Cultural History of the Language
*Barber,
C.L. 1993. The English Language: A Historical Introduction
Bauer,
Laurie. 1994. Watching English Change
*Baugh,
A.C. & T. Cable. 19934 / 20025. A History of the
English Language
Bradford,
R. 1993. A Linguistic History of English Poetry
Burnley,
J.D. 1992. The History of the English Language: A Source Book
Claiborne,
R. 1994. English: Its Life and Times
Culpeper,
J. 1997. History of English
Denison, D.
1993. English Historical Syntax
Fennell,
B.A. 2001. A History of English: A Sociolinguistic Approach
Freeborn,
D. 1992. From Old English to Standard English
Grlach,
M. 1997. The Linguistic History of English
Hogg, R.M.
(gen. ed.). 1992-6. A History of the English Language. [six volumes; see below]
Jespersen,
O. 1956. Growth and Structure of the English Language
Jones,
C. 1989. A History of English Phonology
Knowles,
G. 1997. A Cultural History of the English Language
Lass,
R. 1987. The Shape of English: Structure and History
Leech,
G.N. 1969. A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry
Leith,
D. 1983. A Social History of English
*MacMahon,
A. 1994. Understanding Language Change
McCrum,
R., W. Cran & R. MacNeil. 1992. The Story of English [new and revised edition]
Millward,
C.M. 1989. A Biography of the English Language
*Pyles,
T. & J. Algeo. 1982. The Origins and Development of the English Language
Roberts,
I.G. 1992. Verbs and Diachronic Syntax: A Comparative History of English and
French
Robinson,
O.W. 1992. Old English and Its Closest Relatives
Strang,
B.M.H. 1970 (1994). A History of English
Vallins,
G.H. 1957. The Pattern of English
Visser,
F.T. 1963-73. An Historical Syntax of the English Language [3 volumes]
Wrenn,
C.L. 1949. The English Language
Old
English (ca. 500CE-1100)
Brook, G.L. 1956. An Introduction to Old English
*Hogg, R.M. (ed.). 1992. The Beginnings to 1066.
Cambridge History of the English Language, vol. 1
Hogg,
R.M. (ed.). 1992. The Grammar of Old English, vol. I: Phonology
Lass,
R. 1994. Old English: A Historical Linguistic Companion
Mitchell,
B. 1995. An Invitation to Old English and Anglo-Saxon England
Mitchell,
B. & F. Robinson. 1992. A Guide to Old English
Middle
English (ca. 1100-1500)
Benson, L.D.
(ed.). 1988. The Riverside Chaucer
*Blake,
N.F. (ed.). 1992. 1066-1476. Cambridge HOTEL, vol. 2
McIntosh,
A., M.A.L. Samuels & M. Benskin. 1986. Linguistic Atlas of Late
Mediaeval English
Early
Modern English (ca. 1500-1700)
Grlach,
M. 1991. Introduction to Early Modern English
Lass,
R. (ed.). 1999. 1476-1776. Cambridge HOTEL, vol. 3
Partridge,
A.C. & A. Cooper. 1964. Orthography in Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama
Modern
English (since ca. 1700)
*Algeo,
T. 2001. English in North America. Cambridge HOTEL, vol. 6
Bailey,
R.W. & M. Grlach (eds.) 1982. English as a World Language
Barber,
C.L. 1964. Linguistic Change in Present-Day English
*Burchfield,
R.W. (ed.). 1994. English in Britain and Overseas. Cambridge HOTEL, vol. 5
Crystal,
D. 19971 / 20032. English as a Global Language
Dillard,
J.L. 1992. A History of American English
Grlach,
M. 1998. Even More Englishes: Studies 1996-1997
Gramley,
S. & K.-M. Ptzold. 1992. A Survey of Modern English
McArthur,
T. (ed.). 1992. The Oxford Companion to the English Language
Romaine,
S. (ed.). 1998. 1776-1997. Cambridge HOTEL, vol. 4
Schmied, J.
1991. English in Africa: An Introduction
Trudgill, P.
2004. New-Dialect Formation: The Inevitability of Colonial Englishes
Trudgill, P. & J. Chambers. 1991. Dialects of English
IN ADDITION THERE ARE MANY MORE POSSIBLE TEXTS/ GENRES / TOPICS / É —
WHICH YOU CAN / SHOULD EXPLORE FOR YOUR COURSE ASSESSMENT WORK.
THE INTERNET IS
A HANDY TOOL TO TRACK DOWN GREAT HOTEL-WEBSITES!