AHCP141

The Story of English: A Thousand Years and Counting

Languages

The Norman Conquest transformed all of the important aspects of the English language: pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. We will explore the changes in English from the Middle Ages through Shakespeare’s time to our day. We will answer such questions as why English often contains letters that are never pronounced—talk, answer, through; why spelling seems so “illogical”; why some say nother and what that has to do with newts; why Canadians say aluminum, and not aluminium; and more. We will also follow the rise of Standard English and examine such issues as the lasting effect of the 18th-century grammarians on the way we think about our language. Other topics will include why and how meanings change as well as the varieties of English.

Note: This course was previously offered in the Liberal Arts Program in fall 2012 under the title "“From Chaucer to Tomorrow: English from the High Middle Ages Onwards” and has the same content.

This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):

Section Session(s) Date/time Campus Instructor(s) Cost Registration
AHCP141-VA1137 6 Saturdays
Nov 2–Dec 14
10:30 am–12:20 pm
(no class Nov 9)		 Van Rapti Dietrich $160 ($104 for adults 55+) Register

What will I learn?

Week 1: Middle English

Why was the Norman Conquest of 1066 so pivotal for the development of English? We will look at Middle English words and spellings, and discuss the changes in grammar that occurred in the wake of the Normans. We will also consider some specific examples of Middle English.

Week 2: Early Modern English

What did Early Modern English sound and look like? We will look at the phenomenon of the Great Vowel Shift and talk about the dramatic changes it caused in spoken English. We will also examine the rise of written Standard English.

Week 3: Early Modern English: The Rise of Prescriptivism

We will consider some Renaissance language concerns, and look at the language that Shakespeare used. We will look at the history of dictionaries and grammar books, and discuss the influence of the 18th-century grammarians on the way we look at English even today.

Week 4: Modern English

How is Modern English different from Early Modern English? We will look at some important linguistic events and examine the grammatical and vocabulary changes in the language since the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including stylistic changes in selected novels.

Week 5: Meaning Change

We will look at how words come into being and how and why meaning changes.  We will also explore the fate of words as a result of pejoration, amelioration, taboo, and euphemism; and examine some dramatic shifts in meaning.

Week 6: Varieties of English

We will explore differences between British and North American English as well as national and regional varieties of the language. We will examine some of the unique characteristics that distinguish Canadian English from that spoken elsewhere. We will also attempt to predict some future developments of the language.

How will I learn?

  • Lectures
  • Discussion (may vary from class to class)

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who is interested in learning about the development and structures of the English language from its development in the Middle Ages to contemporary usage.

Textbooks and learning materials

Reading material (if applicable) will be available in class.

If you're 55+, you may take this course as part of

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