Eng 3323 Drinka

Fall 2010 MB 2.314

History of the English LanguageSyllabus

NOTE: The numbers marked in bold represent files in Blackboard 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.

ThAug.25Introduction

T31Read Baugh CableChap. 1 and 2

Film: The Mother Tongue

ThSept. 2Library Orientation: Meet Tara Schmidt in Library Lobby

Read all of BB 2.4 “Phonetics: Studying Pronunciation”

T 7International Phonetic Alphabet

(Bring all BB Phonetics files to class)

Th 9IPA, Phonetics Do BB2.5

T14Write a poem in IPA

Th16Quiz on IPA

Indo-European (Bring all BB Indo-European files to class)

T21IE Cognate Exercises: Do all of BB 3.3-4

Grimm’s Law

Th23Read Watkins Introduction

IE Culture: Clues from Language: Do BB 3.8 (4 pages)

T28Cognate Hunt using Watkins: Do WebCT 3.6-7

(study over the included examples); Read BB 3.9 (3 pages)

Th30Proto-Germanic (Bring all BB Germanic files to class)

Old English Read B&C Ch 3

Features of Germanic Poetry: Cædmon’s Hymn, Beowulf, and the

Lord’s Prayer (Bring BB 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.3-4

TOct. 5Quiz on Grimm's Law & Language Families

Shakespearean Interlude: Intro to Early Modern English and Language of Shakespeare: Read B&C Ch 8

(Bring all BB Early Modern English & Shakespeare files to class)

Th 7Read A Midsummer Night’s Dream

T 12Study and Do BB 7.2.10 Linguistic Insights on MSND (6 pages)

Class Visit of Actors from the London Stage

W13Required Attendance: Performance of A Midsummer Night’s

Dream by the Actors from the London Stage,

Recital Hall (Arts Building) 7:30 pm

Th 14Language of Shakespeare

T19Resumption of Old EnglishRead B&C Ch 4

(Bring all BB Old English files to class)

Th21OE Phonological Processes: BB 5.4.1-5.4.9, Do (49)

T26OE morphology and syntax

“The Coming of the English” BB 5.3.5

Th28OE Process Hunt: Do BB 5.4.6 (54)--see exs. (54) and (54.5)

Foreign Influences on OE

Choose tentative paper topics (See BB 11.1-2)

TNov. 2MIDTERM EXAM

Th 4Class will attend NWAV Conference: Required attendance at

2 papers any day during the conference (Nov. 4-7)

Nov. 2-7 MAJOR EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY Work at conferences:

Nov. 2 – 3The Second Biennial African American Language Conference

La Contessa Hotel, Riverwalk

Nov. 4-7New Ways of Analyzing Variation Conference 39

La Contessa Hotel, Riverwalk

T 9Middle English Read B & C Ch 5, 6 & 7

(Bring all BB Middle English files to class)

Th11Phonology and Syntax of ME (Web CT 6.6-6.7)

Chaucer: BB 6.8 (2 pages)

CHOOSE PAPER TOPIC

T16Germanic vs. French poetry project (see examples in BB)

John of Trevisa’s Polychronicon BB 6.9

Th18French borrowings, old & new (76)

Great Vowel Shift: BB 7.1-2

T23Semantic Shift BB 8.1-5

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

Th25Thanksgiving Holiday: NO CLASS

T30Etymology project using OED: Do WebCT 8.4 (see exs. WebCT 8.5)

ThDec. 2 Age of Reason Read B&C Ch 9

Conclusions & Review

PAPERS DUE

FINAL EXAM (Comprehensive): Tuesday, Dec. 14, 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.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Our Department is sponsoring two major conferences Nov. 2-7:

the Second Biennial African American Language Conference and the New Ways of Analyzing Variation Conference, both of which will take place at La Contessa Hotel on the Riverwalk. More details and a sign-up sheet will be available soon.

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: