| COURSE:
English 412 is a comprehensive survey of the development of the
English language, complete with a brief introduction to phonology,
morphology, and syntax. As it is geared towards students of education
and literature, the course comprises an introduction to the basic
mechanisms of language change and the fundamentals of grammar. With
some basic analytical tools to hand, we will examine the development
of English from its distant roots in Proto-Indo European until the
present day. We will also be reading manuscripts and learning to
decipher medieval script forms.
BOOKS: Books
are available at Atticus, 8 Main St., in Amherst.
- A Biography
of the English Language,
C. M. Millward.
- Cambridge Encyclopedia
of the English Language,
David Crystal.
STRUCTURE AND OBJECTIVES:
The course aims at
familiarizing you with the principles of historical linguistics
with specific focus on English. There will be a great deal of
information you will need to memorize. Class time is split between
lecture and discussion. We will often begin with a quiz, then
discuss the readings, and finally, turn to new topics. The course
proceeds chronologically: we begin with Proto-European languages,
then narrow our focus to Proto-Germanic languages, then to Old
English.
You are expected
to complete your readings prior to each class--the readings
average 15 to 20 pages per class. If you're not going to do the
reading, then this class will be a waste of your time.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendence is very strongly encouraged, and university guidelines
for absence will be strictly enforced. Check your handbook.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- There is one project,
which could be a paper of 1500-2000 words, a historical study
of a word or semantic field, a dialect map, and so on. It isdue
on 17 Dec. Topics will be assigned; if you have atopic you would
like to purue, we can discuss it. You may choose instead
to take a final exam, which will be handed out the Tuesday before
end of term, and will be due 17 Dec.
- Midterm Exam
- And ten announced
quizzes.
- YOUR
PAPER MUST BE HANDED IN AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON THE DATE
DUE. LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- ALL MISSED
ASSIGNMENTS GET AN "F." If you foresee being absent, please
let me know well beforehand. Check "Policies" in the
help section.
- PLAGIARISM
GETS AN "F." This may be for the paper or for the course, at
my discretion. Please check your student handbook and university
guidelines for more on plagiarism.
- ALL PAPERS
MUST BE TYPED OR WORD-PROCESSED. Not doing so reduces your grade
by one letter-value (e.g., "C" down to "D").
GRADING: The
breakdown of your grade is as follows:
- Final project 35%
- Quizzes 50% (5%
each x 10)
- Midterm 15%
See "Grading
Policies" in the help section and "Papers" for
more information on how I assign grades.
CONFERENCES:
Each student is encouraged to meet with me at least once during
the semester. Please let me know beforehand if you want to meet
during my office hours. Otherwise, please make an appointment
to meet with me at a time convenient to you and I will try to
oblige.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
For information on plagiarism and academic honesty, consult your
handbook or the pages on the website devoted to plagiarism (see
"Resources"). Please know that I will pursue cases of
plagiarism.
NOTE
1: Please make and keep a copy
of all your assignments. That copy may be a disc copy. In
case any difficulties arise with respect to misplaced assignments
or with respect to discrepancies between your records and
my own, I will accept the evidence of your computer system's
dating function. For your own peace of mind, I suggest that
you lock any document on the day it is due. That will prevent
your system from associating your document with a later date.
NOTE
2: The schedule of Part II is subject to change. It is
not to be construed as a substitute for your attendance or
as a catalogue of all the information for which you are responsible.
All changes will be announced within a reasonable lead time.
This syllabus constitutes a binding contract between the student
and the professor. If you do not agree with any of the provisions
set herein or if you foresee disagreeing with any of the provisions
which may be added during the course of the term, then you
are free to drop this class within the time allotted by UMass.
NOTE
3:All material pertaining to this course--namely handouts,
quizzes, exams, tests, maps, graphs, charts, printed matter, recorded
matter, electronic matter including but not limited to this syllabus
and associated electronic documents, films, video clips, conversations,
office consultations, classroom responses, lectures, asides, answers
to classroom queries, and related utterances--is copyrighted material
and is subject to international and US laws of copyright. Enrollment
in this course constitutes tacit acceptance of this agreement
and of the copyright claims made therein. Any breach of this agreement
or use of copyrighted material by any member of the university
or the public without prior consent will be met with legal action.
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