230569 A Social and Cultural History of English (S) (WiSe 2009/2010)

The intention of this class is to look at what is often regarded as the external history of English, that is, the social and cultural conditions of the English speech community. The focus will be especially on those historical circumstances which have had rather more obvious consequences for the development of the language, which we will look into period by period.

The initial observations will be oriented toward what we know about the Germanic speech community from which the Anglo-Saxon invaders of Celtic Britain were to come. This pre-Old English period will focus on trade and cultural importations (from the Roman Empire) and Latin learning, service in the Roman army, and migration.

The Old English period will review connections to the continent, settlement in Britain and mixture with Celts, the Heptarchy, the Norse invasions, Wessex and Alfred, the monasteries and writing, and Danelaw and the reign of Canute.

The Middle English period turns to such phenomena as the Norman invasion and change at the top of society; literacy; separation of France and England; the Baron’s revolt; Norman–English relationships, French cultural ascendancy and Continental literary models. Internal trade, growth of manufacturing and foreign trade, the rise of the vernacular state, culture, and language, the effects of the 100 Years’ War and the Black Death, London as the capital and economic center, merchants and the guilds; the Peasants’ Revolt, the Lollards and religious movements; the translation of the Bible into English, Caxton’s press and spreading literacy, Renaissance learning and vernacular literature.

The Early Modern English period is concerned with conflict between Scotland, England, and Ireland, the Reformation, the enclosures and urbanization, religious movements, democratization, the Civil War and the Commonwealth, first overseas expansion, and Elizabethan literature.

In the Modern English period we will, because this is a PM 3 seminar, almost exclusively devote our attention to Britain and Ireland with a look at urbanization and industrialization, mass education and the rise of a mass reading public, linguistic prescriptivism, but also political union, colonialism, imperialism, the growth of a consumer society, penal transportation, expansion of the franchise, devolution, and 20th century immigration. Time permitting, we may consider transnational communities, globalization, localization, and re-ethnicization.

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