Description
In this course we will focus on three questions concerning linguistic change: (1) What type of changes occur? (2) What are the causes of linguistic change? (3) How can our knowledge of linguistic change be used to reconstruct earlier stages of a language, in particular those stages for which no written records are available? Using the course book and a number of articles as background, we will try to determine and evaluate some of the answers that have been given to these questions. In doing so, we will consider various examples of linguistic change, most of them from English, but also from a variety of other languages.
Teaching method
Two-hour seminar per week
Admission requirements
Introductory BA courses in (historical) linguistics (Linguistics 5C or comparable).
Course objectives
To extend the students’ knowledge of linguistic theory and historical linguistics acquired in earlier courses; to introduce them to the question of the relationship between theory and historical data.
Required reading
Campbell, Lyle (2004). Historical Linguistics: an Introduction (2nd edn.). Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Various articles.
Test method
essay (40%); written examination, with short open and essay-type questions (50%); oral presentation (10%).
Time table
Information
English Department, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c. Phone: 071 527 2144, or by mail:
Registration
Students can register through U-twist before 15 July, After 15 July students can only register through the Departmental Office.
Blackboard
Not available.