Englisches Seminar
Universität Münster
The introductory session will give a brief survey of approaches to the subject. Furthermore, possible reasons for language change will be discussed. A selection of short texts from various time periods is intended to illustrate some aspects. A short introduction to the Oxford English Dictionary will prepare students to work with this immensely important publication.
During the next session we will have a closer look at the Indo-European language family. Participants will learn into which groups it can be subdivided and how the Germanic branch differs from the other languages. Particular emphasis will be paid to the Germanic Consonant Shift (Grimm's Law) and Verner's Law.
The Old English period is treated in some detail, as it produced the oldest texts in the English language. It is remarkably different from Present-Day English, but has several affinities with German, for example, in the distinction of strong and weak adjectives. We will learn the probable pronunciation of Old English as well as some inflections in order to demonstrate the synthetic nature of Old English in contrast to the analytic language of today. Throughout this study we will concentrate on the most important dialect at the time, namely West Saxon.
Although Old English continued to be spoken for some time after the Norman Conquest, linguistic changes were so extensive that scholars have named the twelfth century as the start of the Middle English period. Just as in Old English, there is no fixed written standard either. In addition to various dialects, there are great differences between early texts and material from later times, such as the end of the fifteenth century. Emphasis will be on the continuing change in several linguistic categories and some significant differences from Old English. Particular attention will be paid to the language of Chaucer in his General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.
Early Modern English has often been termed a transitional period between the language of the Middle Ages and the establishment of today's standard. In fact, it was during this time that one of the most important sound changes in English language history took place: the Great Vowel Shift. This process will be covered in detail. Another crucial aspect was the introduction of many new words to the English language, which will also be discussed. Last but not least, Early Modern English was the language of Shakespeare, and an analysis of his linguistic environment is intended to lead students to a better understanding of his works.
The main assessment factor for the successful passing of this course will be a final examination, which will take place in the final session. Regular participation in all sessions is strongly advised. It is essential that candidates will have visited the following links to get a further impression of the course and to broaden their understanding of the subject matter: