Kommentiertes Vorlesungsverzeichnis Anglistik Heidelberg SS 2008

4.2 Proseminar II historische Sprachwissenschaft (Überblick)
accurately. Finally, we will turn to dialectal variation, primarily contemporary Estuary English
(which descends from 19th-century Cockney), American English and Pidgin English (in each case
strictly focussing on their respective phonemic inventories and implications of phonological
variation).
Texts: Recommended for introductory reading:
the chapter on “The Sound System” in David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English
Language (1995), pp. 236-249, and the chapter on “Language Change” in David Crystal, The
Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (1987), pp. 328-333.
Other relevant texts will be made available in the course of the semester. Please make sure to reacquaint
yourselves with the most important key terms of (articulatory) phonetics and phonology.
Course Requirements: Active and regular participation (1 CP) and preparation (2 CP), in-class
presentations (1 CP) as well as either a final written exam in the last week of term, an oral exam or
a Hausarbeit (depending on Studiengang; 2 CP).
An Introduction to the History of English
Dr. Polzenhagen Dienstag 09:15 – 10:45 110 2st.
This course will give an introductory overview of the development of the English language. In its
first part, we will look at the main historical periods of the English language (Old English, Middle
English, Early Modern English). Here, the focus will be on the reflection of historical changes and
socio-cultural realities in the development of the lexicon of English. In the second part of the
course, some theoretical and methodological problems and approaches in studying historical
varieties will be discussed. In the third part, we will deal with specific kinds of changes
(phonological, morphological, syntactical, lexical and conceptual) that have taken place in the
history of English in more detail. Finally, a brief introduction to diachronic computer corpora of
English will be given.
Texts: A reader with the course material will be made available
Course Requirements: Regular and active participation (1 CP); preparation/homework
assignments (2 CP); presentation and written version of the in-class presentation (6 pages; 2 CP);
written end-of-term test (1 CP).
Overview of the History of English (Blockseminar)
Dorothea Halbe Freitag 11:15 – 16:30 (with a 45 min. brake) 112
We will look at the different stages from Old to Present Day English both linguistically as well as
historically in so far as this is helpful for understanding changes in the language. Each session
(apart from the introductory one and the exam) will cover one period.
Dates: The first session is on Fri, 18th April (finishes one hour earlier).
Further sessions are on 9th May, 30th May, 13th June, 11th July and 25th July.
Registration: To register, send me an email: dorothea.halbe@as.uni-heidelberg.de. Please specifiy
whether you want credits for this course.
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