Englisches Seminar
Universität Münster

SPRACHWISSENSCHAFTLICHES PROSEMINAR:
THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE

WS 05/06
Mo 11-13, Room 032
Oliver M. Traxel


The early history of England is documented in medieval manuscripts which were written at various monasteries between the end of the ninth and the middle of the twelfth century. The surviving versions of these chronicles are of interest not only to the historian, but also from a linguistic point of view. In the Peterborough version it is even possible to witness language change from Old to Middle English in the final continuations.

In this seminar we will translate and analyse some representative portions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Particular emphasis will be on the discussion of the language, for which reason this course can also serve as an introduction to Old English. Palaeographical features which are related to linguistic developments will be illustrated in facsimiles. Prospective participants should have a strong interest in past language stages and preferably have taken part in a Sprachhistorischer Grundkurs.

A text collection is available at the front desk of the Departmental Library for you to copy. Further material will be provided in electronic form for you to print out. You will need a valid uni-muenster address to access the BSCW Server. In preparation for this seminar you should read R. Hogg, An Introduction to Old English (Edinburgh, 2002) [S GA 2002:1], and/or chapter 2 in M. Godden & M. Lapidge, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature (Cambridge, 1991) [LIT CA 1991:1] before the first session.

It is essential that candidates will have visited the following links to get a further impression of the course:

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