ENGL 315, The English Language, Fall 2013

Abstract

In this course, we will examine the history of the English language from its beginnings to the present. We will trace its Indo-European and Germanic origins, its development into Old and Middle English, and its transformation from the early modern period into its diversity as a modern “world” language. Language cannot be separated from the people who speak it, and our emphasis will fall equally on the formal and social aspects of language history. At each stage of language history, we will seek to understand the linguistic forces of phonological, morphological, and syntactical change as well as processes of semantic change and new word formation. Throughout the semester, we will explore such topics as language and literature, the social implications of language variation, text production, and the effects of languages in contact--as a result of war and colonization as well as through trade, tourism, and even the internet. The course will be of special interest to students of literature seeking to understand more fully the linguistic forces at work in the texts they study but is likely to be of value to anyone who uses language. Prerequisites: Any 200-level literature course or permission from the instructor.