This is a course on the History of the English Language from a sociolinguistic perspective. We will try to locate structures and their changes within the context of human endeavours, as language is primarily a social phenomenon. You will learn some basic facts and concepts, but they will always be contextualized. We will take a closer look at different aspects of extralinguistic conditioning of change in language at its different levels, including lexicon, semantics, morphosyntax, phonology and orthography.
- Teacher: Natalia Rzonsowska