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 linguistics • Issues in Romance historical linguistics

Assessment Strategy

Threshold / D: Limited ability to describe linguistic data from a historical linguistics perspective. Able to use lecture material to support answers but evidences only limited study of sources that go beyond lecture material. Shows a baseline understanding of some key theoretical perspectives in historical linguistics. Able to use the comparative method in a limited manner to analyse linguistic similarities and reconstruct features of extinct language varieties with limited success. Can explain the origins of words in e.g. English in a general way. Can produce a reasonably argument related to historical linguistics but with only 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 evidence of background study of sources going beyond material discussed in lectures. Good understanding of key 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 in a detailed and clear way. Can produce a coherent argument related to historical linguistics that evaluates relevant literature. Can present themselves clearly in written and oral forms.

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

Learning Outcomes

• Describe and categorize features of historical grammatical change in various languages and language families.

• Produce an argument evaluating an area of historical linguistics with reference to pertinent literature.

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

• Use historical linguistic theory to explain and evaluate common processes of grammatical change.