[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_text_separator title=”Language Histories” title_align=”separator_align_left” align=”align_left” color=”custom” style=”dotted” border_width=”3″ font_size=”medium” accent_color=”#e94a35″][vc_toggle title=”Course Outline” style=”round” color=”orange” size=”lg”]
The introductory syllabus includes basic lessons on the history of the English language:
- Foreword (1 Point)
- From Modest Beginnings (1 Point)
- Language Families (2 Credits)
- Ancient Languages (1 Credit)
- The Celts and the Romans (2 Credits)
- Old English (2 Credits)
- Middle English (2 Credits)
- The Renaissance and Early Modern English (2 Credits)
- Modern English and Language Change (2 Credits)
The extended syllabus will be updated frequently and include more advanced lessons, essays, and independent learning activities.
- Does Language Shape the Way We Think? (2 Points)
[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”References” style=”round” color=”orange” size=”lg”]
Jespersen, Otto. The Growth and Structure of the English Language (1938)
Baugh, A.C. A History of the English Language (1959)
Hogben, Lancelot. The Mother Tongue (1964)
Strang, B.M.H. A History of English (1970)
McKnight, G.H. The Evolution of the English Language (1970)
Bolton, W.F. The English Language: Essays by English and American Men of Letters 1940–1839 (1973)
Burnley, David. The History of the English Language: A Source Book (1992)
Pinker, Steven. The Language Instinct (1994)
Crystal, David. The Stories of English (2004)
Crystal, David. The Story of English in 100 Words (2011)
[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Read On” style=”round” color=”orange” size=”lg”]
The history of English is long, winding, and complex—but here are the main events that shaped the history of English and gave us the language we use today. Click the links below to read more about English through time.
- The History of English by Philip Durkin
- Nineteenth-Century English by Lynda Mugglestone
- Twentieth-Century English by John Ayto
19th Century English
The 19th century saw a lot of changes around the world. Explore the impact this had on the English language, with new words and changing grammar over the 1800s.
- The Impact of New Technology
New technology leads to new vocabulary. What influence did cars and the telephone have on English? - Local and Global English
We explore changes to English in the 19th century, on a local and global scale, and look at what contemporary scholars of English were saying. - Recording the Language
The 19th century is the first period from which we have recordings of actual voices—and it was also the dawn of a new approach to dictionary-making. - Changing Grammar and New Words
In the 19th century the English language went through some fundamental changes in terms of spelling, sound, syntax, and meaning. Read all about this period. - The Science of Language
A number of language specialisms appeared at this time, but how did James Murray describe himself?
20th Century English
How has English changed between 1900 and 1999? And is there truly only one English language?
- Circles of English
How did the English language develop in the 20th century? There are three circles that have been identified to represent the diversity of varieties of English. - Converging Varieties of English
Varieties of English seem to have converged over the 20th century: how, and why? - New Vocabulary
A lot can change in 100 years: take a look at what happened to English vocabulary over the 20th century and learn how many new words were added to dictionaries. - Descriptivists vs Prescriptivists
Do recent developments in English ever irk you? We look at modern descriptivism and prescriptivism.
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[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”Introduction” title_align=”separator_align_left” align=”align_left” color=”custom” style=”dotted” border_width=”3″ font_size=”medium” accent_color=”#e94a35″][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Modern English and Language Change[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] The Renaissance and Early Modern English[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Middle English[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Old English[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] The Celts and the Romans[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”📖” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Ancient Languages[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Language Families[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”🎯” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] From Modest Beginnings[/van_timeline][van_timeline time=”📖” href=”//www.blogchuyenanh.org/language-histories/foreword/“” target=”“_blank“”] Foreword[/van_timeline][/vc_column][/vc_row]