SoSe 19: PS-History of English II
Anna Islentyeva
Comments
This seminar introduces students to the development of the English language from being a Germanic dialect towards becoming a global lingua franca. The seminar focuses on changes in phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax and grammar as well as the relationship of English to other Germanic (German, Dutch, Swedish, etc.) and Indo-European languages. Students will be introduced to the phenomenon of language change, which will help them to gain insights into the structure of modern English; for instance, we will look at the principles that governed the spelling of English originally in order to identify the reasons of the inconsistencies that have arisen during the development of English. Finally, we will refer to the notions of Standard English and linguistic varieties with particular focus on the regional varieties of British English and differences between British vs. US English.
Course Requirements:
- Regular attendance
- Active participation: Oral presentation, participation in class activities, quizzes
- Short term paper (ca. 2 000 - 2 500 words)
NOTE: The seminar is complemented by a lecture The History of English (Tuesdays 10-12 a.m., Lecture Hall 1b) that provides an overview of the history of the English language. The contents of the lecture by Prof. Dr. von Mengden will be presumed to be familiar.
close13 Class schedule
Regular appointments