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14104-01 - Proseminar: Introduction to the History of English (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2012 |
| Further events belonging to these CP |
14104-01 (Proseminar) 14104-02 (Proseminar) 14104-03 (Proseminar) |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Nicole Höhn (nicole.hoehn@unibas.ch) |
| Content | This compulsory proseminar introduces students to the history of the English language (from the beginnings to the present day), and aims to sharpen their understanding of the historical dynamics of linguistic systems. A strong emphasis will be placed on methodology and data. This means we will question how best to explore language change in the past, despite the absence of spoken records and scant written data from particular periods. Reasons for language change, both language internal and external, will be examined. In particular, we will (a) be looking at different levels of the linguistic system to understand in what ways phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics are subject to variation, adaptation and change over time, and (b) reflect on how social, economic and anthropological factors involving speakers' mobility and contact between languages and language varieties are at the heart of variation and change. A second aim of the proseminar is to introduce students to the writing of linguistics papers. To work towards this aim, students will have to write an outline for an empirical research paper in historical linguistics. |
| Learning objectives | To introduce students to the history of the English language and, more generally, to the historical aspects of language change. An additional aim is to foster their academic writing skills in the discipline of English linguistics. |
| Bibliography | All texts will be made available on ISIS. |
| Weblink | ISIS |
| Admission requirements | Successful completion of the BA module "Learning about Linguistics" |
| Course application | Please register for this course on ISIS. The number of students is limited to 25 per group. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Refining Skills in Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) (Pflicht) Modul Refining Skills in Linguistics for SLA teachers (Sek-I-Fach: Englisch) (Pflicht) Modul Refining Skills in Linguistics for SLA teachers (Ausbildung zur Lehrperson für die Sekundarstufe I) (Pflicht) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation, oral presentation, writing skills task |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |