230560 History of English (S) (SoSe 2009)

The object of this class is to present a comprehensive, professional description of the origins and the linguistic and social development of the English language. It combines these aspects more than usually is the case by pursing some of the ways in which society, politics, economics, and demography have affected the language.

As for the title, History refers to the very obviously diachronic view of the language while the English Language emphasizes the importance of both linguistic and sociolinguistic points of view. Furthermore, the importance of contact with other languages in the development of English (something always mentioned but seldom focused on) will be traced throughout the class. The main points will be:

• the linguistic system of English and change in it, both as a description of actual developments and as an explanation of the mechanisms of change;
• some indication of the internal variation in the language in terms of its historical and present-day regional and social variation;
• the influence of contact with other languages on its development.

The treatment will be generally diachronic progressing from the sources and the establishment of Anglo-Saxon in the British Isles and going up to the present day. Throughout there will be substantial reference to the linguistic and sociolinguistic features of the language in the various generally recognized historical stages of the language. It is my intention not to restrict treatment to Britain (often the case despite a few words about the rest of the English-speaking world) nor to concentrate just on North America, but follow the global course of the language into the rest of the world in and following the period of Early Modern English.

In order to get full credit (3 points), the following is expected of all participants:

1. Regular attendance.
2. An oral presentation to be expanded into (3):
3. A written treatment of one of the topics suggested.
4. Alternative to (3): a final exam.

A literature / reading list will be provided.