A History of English Words 3301-ZJ-JF004
The course focuses on the history of English lexis and changes which affected English words. The topics discussed will include word-formation processes in English, the influence of other languages on the lexicon of English, and problems of semantic change.
The prosaic and poetic texts discussed will represent various periods of English (e.g. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings). The students are expected to identify words of foreign origin, evaluate the morphology of selected words, and discuss various aspects of semantic evolution.
Topics:
- word-formation processes in the past and today
- morphological analysis
- etymology
- loss of words and its causes
- influence of other languages in the development of English: loanwords, hybrids, rivalry of native and foreign words
- semantics and changes of meaning
- dialectal words in Present Day English
- proper names
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
The graduate has in-depth familiarity with:
- K_W01 advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the discipline of linguistics, in accordance with their chosen specialization (and educational path), mostly those pertaining to lexicology, study of vocabulary and language contact
- K_W04 concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright
Abilities
The graduate is able to:
- K_U01 apply the advanced terminology, theories and methods of linguistic research to solve complex and original research problems in accordance with his/her chosen specialization (and educational path), mostly those pertaining to lexicology, study of vocabulary and language contact
- K_U04 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law
Social competences
The graduate is ready to:
- K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources, mostly those pertaining to lexicology, study of vocabulary and language contact
- K_K02 recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems; consult experts when required
Assessment criteria
Obligatory homework and written test at the end of the course.
Two absences are allowed.
In the case of failure, the same rules apply.
Bibliography
Ayers, D.M. (1986) English Words from Latin and Greek Elements. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press.
Baugh, A.C. – T. Cable (2002) A History of the English Language. London: Routledge.
Crystal, D. (2008) Think on My Words. Exploring Shakespeare’s Language. Cambridge: CUP.
Grzebieniowski, T. (1962) Słownictwo i słowotwórstwo angielskie. Warszawa: PWN.
Hughes, G. (2000) A History of English Words. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Kastovsky, D. (2006) “Vocabulary”. [In:] R. Hogg – D. Denison (eds.) A History of the English Language. (Cambridge: CUP), 199-270.
Liberman, A. (2005) Word Origins…and How We Know Them. Oxford: OUP.
Minkova, D. – R. Stockwell (2001) English Words. History and Structure. Cambridge: CUP
Plag, I. (2003) Word-Formation in English. Cambridge: CUP.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: