History of English - AIE2221

Assessment 1: Written practice exercise

Draft commentary to prepare for summative 2. 

Written practice exercise

Assessment 2: Portfolio

A portfolio consisting of two 1500-word commentaries on two sources relating to different periods in the history of English.

Portfolio

Assessment 1: Presentation

Presentation focusing on one language with which English has been in contact, explaining how contact with this language led to changes in English.

Presentation

This module will provide you with an understanding the history of the English language from the early medieval period to the present day. There will be a focus on literary sources, like Chaucer, especially when studying the earliest periods. Students will gain a strong understanding of how the English language looked and sounded in different periods.  We will examine how the English language has changed over time in its phonology, syntax, morphology, and lexicon, and consider more macro-level changes like standardization. Sociolinguistic issues will also be covered where relevant. We will consider how internal factors and external factors, especially language contact with Norse and French, have caused changes to English in these different areas. The module will introduce to a range of different resources available to scholars studying the history of English, and you will apply several theoretical and empirical approaches to language history.

School of Arts and Humanities

Bergs, Alexander &amp; Laurel Brinton. 2017. The History of English. Volume 4: Early Modern English. 
 
Bergs, Alexander &amp; Laurel Brinton. 2017. The History of English. Volume 2: Old English. 
 
Brinton, L. J., &amp; Brinton, D. (2010). In Brinton D. M. (Ed.), The linguistic structure of Modern English (Rev.;2; ed.). John Benjamins Pub. Co. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1075/z.156">https://doi.org/10.1075/z.156</a>
 
 
Filppula, M. (2010). Contact and the early history of english. In R. Hickey (Ed.), Handbook of language contact (pp. 432-453). Wiley‐Blackwell. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444318159.ch21">https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444318159.ch21</a>
 
Hejná, Míša &amp; George Walkden. 2022.  A History of English. 
 
Horobin, S., &amp; Smith, J. (2002;2016;). An introduction to middle English (1st ed.). Edinburgh University Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748673124">https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748673124</a>
 
Machan, T. W. (2023). Language anxiety: Conflict and change in the history of english. Oxford University Press.
 
Pahta, P., Skaffari, J., &amp; Wright, L. (2018;2017;). Multilingual practices in language history: English and beyond (1st;1; ed.). De Gruyter Mouton. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504945">https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504945</a>
 
Schendl, H., &amp; Wright, L. (2011). In Schendl H., Wright L.(Eds.), Code-switching in early English (1st;1; ed.). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110253368

English Literature

AIE2221 - History of English

History of English

Evaluate the sources available for studying the history of English.

Outline how the English language has changed since the early medieval period.

Discuss features of historical English using appropriate terminology and concepts.

Explain factors which caused the English language to change in specific ways at specific points in time. 

Organise, plan and submit academic work orally and in writing according to the conventions of the discipline.