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Overview

The historical linguist is concerned with the ways in which grammar changes over time, and especially with identifying common patterns of such change across languages. This module enables students to make use of their linguistic knowledge to learn about historical grammatical change, particularly in the phonology, morphology and/or semantics of a language. You will learn about the grammar of English and its close relatives, as well as about Celtic and Romance languages and further afield. You will be able to explain the origins of words in English and other languages, and use the comparative method to reconstruct lost forms of languages – as in the case of Proto-Indo-European. The kinds of transferrable skills you will acquire include detailed analysis of data and synthesizing literature in order to formulate an argument. This module is ideal for any student who is interested in the ways languages change – and why they do so – but it is also relevant for those who are interested in contemporary linguistic change, since the same principles necessarily apply. There are two assignments on the module, an analysis report requiring you to reconstruct aspects of a fictional extinct language, and to produce an essay or ‘unessay’ reviewing literature in historical linguistics.

Students will learn about topics like: • How languages are related • Etymology (especially of English) • Proto-Indo European and other reconstructed languages. • Reconstructing ‘lost’ languages using the comparative method of analysis • Sound change • Morphological change • Semantic change • Issues in Germanic historical linguistics • Issues in Celtic historical linguisticsIssues in Romance historical linguistics

Assessment Strategy

Threshold / C: General ability to analyse linguistic data from a historical linguistics perspective. Shows evidence of some background study of sources going beyond material discussed in lectures. Shows a reasonable understanding of key theoretical perspectives in historical linguistics. Able to use the comparative method to analyse linguistic similarities and reconstruct features of extinct language varieties with a reasonable degree of success. Can coherently explain the origins of words in e.g. English with reference to limited evidence. Can produce a coherent argument related to historical linguistics that includes a limited evaluation of pertinent literature. Can present themselves reasonably clearly in written and oral forms.

Good / B: Ability to effectively analyse linguistic data from a historical linguistics perspective. Shows clear evidence of background study of sources going beyond material discussed in lectures. Good understanding of theoretical perspectives in historical linguistics. Able to use the comparative method to successfully analyse linguistic similarities and reconstruct features of extinct language varieties. Can coherently explain the origins of words in e.g. English with reference to evidence. Can produce a clear and well-argued argument related to historical linguistics that includes critical evaluation of literature. Can present themselves clearly in written and oral forms.

Excellent / A: Proficient in analysing linguistic data from a historical linguistics perspective. Shows clear evidence of considerable background study of sources going beyond material discussed in lectures. Able to proficiently evaluate and implement theoretical perspectives in historical linguistics. Able to use the comparative method to analyse linguistic similarities and reconstruct features of extinct language varieties with great success. Can explain the origins of words in e.g. English with nuance by evaluating evidence rigorously. Can present a critically evaluative and well-evidenced argument related to historical linguistics. Can present themselves very clearly in written and oral forms.

Learning Outcomes

• Critique and interpret processes of grammatical change in the context of historical linguistic theory

• Critique and synthesize pertinent literature and secondary evidence for an area of historical linguistics

• Document and critique features of historical grammatical change in various languages and language families

• Reconstruct earlier phonological forms of a language using the comparative method of linguistic reconstruction.