Admission requirements
A BA course in English linguistics and in historical linguistics.
Description
In this course, we discuss language change in the history of the English language. Focusing on several case studies exemplifying syntactic, morphological and semantic change, we examine which processes of change are at work, including reanalysis, analogy and grammaticalization. We will also pay attention to a number of approaches and perspectives in the field of (English) historical linguistics, as well as to the corpus method, with some hands-on exercises.
Course objectives
The course aims to familiarize students with
a number of key syntactic, morphological and semantic changes that took place in the history of the English language
some important descriptive methods and theoretical approaches used in the field of (English) historical linguistics the use of historical corpora
By the end of the course, students will be able to
identify syntactic, morphological and semantic changes in the history of the English language
recognize processes that are at work in linguistic change
assess different descriptive methods and theoretical approaches used in the field of (English) historical linguistics
draw appropriate conclusions from linguistic evidence of linguistic change as found in historical texts and corpora
critically assess primary research literature
construct an argument and present research findings with bearing on a topic in historical linguistics
Timetable
The timetable is available on the MA Linguistics website
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Course Load
The course load is 280 hours.
time spent on attending seminars: 26 hours
time for studying the compulsory literature: 100 hours
time for preparing the presentation: 32 hours
time to write a paper (including reading/research): 122 hours
Assessment method
Assessment An in-term oral presentation and an end-of-term written essay.
Weighing
Oral presentation: 30%
Written essay: 70%
NB A minimum mark of 5.5 is required for the written essay.
Resit
The essay must be rewritten if the mark is lower than 5.5. There is no resit for the presentation.
Essay inspection and feedback
How and when an essay review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the course results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the course results, an essay review will be organized.
Attendance
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two seminars means that students will be excluded from the seminars. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
study materials (course programme, written assignment, etc.)
course-related announcements
Reading list
Brinton, Laurel (ed.). 2017. English historical linguistics: Approaches and perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
A selection of articles/book chapters (if these are not available in the University Library, they will be made available in Blackboard).
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.
The coordinator of studies is Else van Dijk