Englisches Seminar
Universität Münster

SPRACHWISSENSCHAFTLICHES PROSEMINAR:
THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH IN SCOTLAND

WS 04/05
Mo 11-13, Room H20
Oliver M. Traxel


Ever since the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain during the fifth century the English language has also been spoken in the North of the island and confined the Celtic or Gaelic language of the earlier settlers to a marginal position spoken only in farther regions. Over the years the particular variety of English spoken in the North developed specific characteristics that distinguished them from the remaining dialects, which resulted in the creation of a standard during the later Middle Ages known as Scots.

In this seminar we will look at various linguistic aspects of Scots and examine how these developed from the Middle English period until today. Specific focus will be on a selection of texts from various points in time, which will be analysed and translated. All participants are expected to give short presentations and will have to sign up on the notice board as soon as possible (1 October at the latest), or they may lose their place. In preparation for this seminar you should read C. Jones, The English Language in Scotland (East Linton, 2002) [4.0 Jone 2002] before classes start.

The set text is M. Görlach, A Textual History of Scots, (Heidelberg, 2002) (ISBN 3-8253-1073-6), and copies should be bought in advance, for example, at Poertgen-Herder in the Salzstr., or at amazon.de.

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

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