Language Change in the History of English

This class is an introduction to the history of the English language. We will cover all the major periods in the history of English: Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Present Day English. The description of language structure and language use in these periods will highlight the roles of language contact and change. In addition to linguistic analyses, we will also consider the socio-cultural backgrounds of historical developments; so you will be able to connect language change with more general social change. You will, for example, learn what features of English are due to various invasions and conquests, and how inventions like the printing press have influenced the use of English.