Eng 3323 Drinka

Spring 2010 MB 2.314

History of the English Language

Syllabus

NOTE: The numbers marked in bold represent files in Web-CT which are to beprinted and brought to class. If the directions say “Do”, these exercises are to be completed in advance and submitted in class on the day specified.

TJan.12Introduction

Th14Read B&C Chap. 1

International Phonetic Alphabet (WebCT 2.1 pages 1-4)

T19IPA, Phonetics (WebCT 2.2 pages 1-3; 2.3 pages 1-3;

Read WebCT 2.4 pages 1-17)

Th21Do WebCT 2.5 pages 1-3

T26Indo-European Read B&C Ch 2 (WebCT 3.2.1 - 3.2.5; 3.3)

Th28IE Cognate Exercises: Do all of WebCT 3.4 (6 pages)

Grimm’s Law: WebCT 3.5 (2 pages), Do 3.6 (2 pages)

TFeb. 2Quiz on IPA, Phonetics

Read Watkins Introduction

IE Culture: Clues from Language: WebCT 3.8 (4 pages)

Th 4Read WebCT 3.9 (3 pages)

T 9Cognate Hunt using Watkins: Do WebCT 3.7
(see exs. WebCT 3.7, pages 2-3)

Th11Proto-Germanic: Read WebCT 4.1 pages 1-3

Old English Read B&C Ch 3

WebCT 5.1, 5.2; 5.3.1 - 5.3.4;

T16Quiz on Grimm's Law & Language Families

OE Phonological Processes: WebCT 5.4.1- 5.4.5

Th18Read B&C Ch 4

Film: The Mother Tongue

T23OE morphology and syntax

“The Coming of the English” WebCT 5.3.5

Th25OE Process Hunt: Do WebCT 5.4.6 (see exs. WebCT 5.4.7)

WebCT 5.4.8-10

TMarch 2Foreign Influences on OE WebCT 5.5-5.8

Th 4MIDTERM EXAM

March 8-14Spring Break

TMarch 16Middle English Read Ch 5(WebCT 6.1- 6.5)

Th 18Phonology and Syntax of ME (Web CT 6.6-6.7)

Chaucer: WebCT 6.8 (2 pages)

Choose tentative paper topics (See WebCT 11.1-2)

T23Germanic vs. French poetry project

Read B&C Ch 6 & 7

John of Trevisa’s Polychronicon (WebCT 6.9)

Th 25French borrowings, old & new(WebCT 6.10)

CHOOSE PAPER TOPIC

T30Early Modern English: Read Ch 8

ThApr. 1Read A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Exercises on Shakespeare’s language WebCT 7.2.1- 7.2.3

T 6Linguistic Observations on MSND: Do WebCt 7.2.11 (5 pages)

Th 8Great Vowel Shift: WebCT 7.1 (2 pages)

T 13Semantic Shift(WebCT 8.1-3)

Th 15Etymology project using OED: Do WebCT 8.4 (see exs. WebCT 8.5)

T 20Age of Reason Read B&C Ch 9(WebCT 9.1)

Th 22American English Read B&C Ch 11(WebCT 9.2- 9.3)

T 27Conclusions & Review: WebCT 10.1 (7 pages)

PAPERS DUE

FINAL EXAM (Comprehensive): Tuesday, May 4, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm

English 3323Bridget Drinka

Spring 2010MB 2.314

ffice hrs: TR 2-3

458-5130 or by appt.

English 3323 Policy Statement

English 3323 surveys the history of the English language, beginning with its earliest traceable origins in Proto-Indo-European down to the modern dialects of American and British English. Students will gain insight into the causes of linguistic change, which English so well illustrates, and will focus on what is archaic and what is innovative about the language they speak. In addition, students will have the opportunity to analyze texts from various periods.

Texts:A History of the English Language (5th ed.) Baugh and Cable.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare (any edition)

The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots

Calvert Watkins. 2000.

Homework: Frequent homework assignments will be given; some homework will be collected, some will be covered in class. You will receive either a + (very good), ? (OK), or - (unsatisfactory). No late homework will be accepted.

Quizzes and Exams: Several quizzes, including pop quizzes, will be given, as well as a

midterm and a comprehensive final.

Term Paper: A 12-page typed paper, covering a topic of the student's choice, will be due on the last day of class. Possible topics and guidelines will be discussed in detail at a later date.

Attendance:Attendance is mandatory, and roll will be taken. However, if you must be

absent, there is no need to notify me. Please arrange to get notes from another student.

Grading:Homework and Quizzes10% A 90-100

Term Paper25%B80- 89

Midterm Exam25% C 70- 79

Final Exam40%D60- 69

Fbelow 60%

Please note: Support services, including registration assistance and equipment, are available to students with documented disabilities through the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS), MS 2.03.18. Students are encouraged to contact that office at 458-4157 early in the semester to make arrangements.

Plagiarism of any sort will, of course, not be tolerated. Please consult the University web-page on plagiarism: