description & set texts
Language, languages and language change. The Indo-European language family. Germanic languages and the English language. Linguistic reconstruction. History of writing and spelling in England. Foreign influence upon the English language: Latin, French, Celtic, Scandinavian, etc. Word formation techniques and seamntic changes. Old English soundsystem and its changes. Old English morphology. Written and spoken language. Standardization, dialects, sociolects. National varieties of English.
Pyles, Th.(1997) The Origins and Development of the English Language. Chapters X and XII.(First edition) Bloomfield, l.(1976 ) Language. Chapter 24. Berndt, R,(1982) History of the English Language. chapter\3. Strang,B.(1974) A History of English. Chapter 9. Millward, C.M.(1989) A biography of English.Chapters on the Morphology and Syntax of OE, ME and eMNE. Lecture handouts.