An Introduction to the History of English - Einzelansicht

The course offers an introduction to the history of the English language from its origins to the present day. It explores the linguistic roots of English, the changes in pronunciation and loss of inflections, as well as the enormous expansion in vocabulary, which characterises the development of English. We will also consider the different varieties of English in evidence today and the similarities and dissimilarities between English and other Germanic languages. Among the difficulties encountered by ESL/EFL students are the English system of tenses as well as the discrepancy between spelling and pronunciation: these will all be addressed in this series of lectures.

Chapters from the following books will be provided on Moodle:

Algeo, J. & Pyles, T. (2004) The Origins and Development of the English Language. 5th edition, Thomson Wadsworth
Barber, C., Beal, J. C. and Shaw, P. A. (2009) The English Language: A Historical Introduction. 2nd ed. Cambridge UP
Baugh, Albert C. and Thomas Cable. 2013. 6th ed. A History of the English Language. London and New York: Routledge.
Kohnen, T. (2014) Introduction to the History of English. Frankfurt/M. etc.: Peter Lang.

Written pass-fail exam (90 minutes)