Middlebury

ENAM 1009

History of English Language

History of the English Language
Who was the first “dude”? Is “unfriend” acceptable English? In this course we will explore the story of English as a history of language contacts and language change. We will begin the story in 449 AD with the Germanic dialect of Anglo-Saxon invaders, and end by examining global Englishes in the digital age. Along the way we will study literary and popular texts (from “Caedmon’s Hymn” to Harry Potter) representing the major English periods (Old, Middle, Early Modern, and Modern) in order to understand the changes in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary resulting from both internal evolution and such external, cultural factors as war, migration, global markets, music, film, television, and the internet.
Subject:
English & American Literatures
Department:
English & American Literatures
Division:
Literature
Requirements Fulfilled:
LIT SOC WTR
Equivalent Courses:
LNGT 1009

Sections

Winter 2014

ENAM1009A-W14 Lecture (Skubikowski)