Course Title: History of English Language L T P/S SW/FW Total

Credit Units: 3 3 0 3
Course Code:
Course Level: UG

Course Objective:
The course is designed to make the students understand the structure of the English language. The objective of this course is also to impart to the
students that any language is constantly in a state of flux, changing in a systematic fashion. The course also looks at its position in the world
diachronically and its relation to other tongues, the wealth of its vocabulary together with the processes in which that vocabulary has been and is
being enriched. It will introduce to the students that some of the elements of English language so erroneously called "irregular" by grammarians
are quite regular from the standpoint of linguistic evolution. The complex relationships among the many different varieties of speech (and the
people who spoke it) that are gathered under the name of English language will also be discussed. This will help a literature student to
understand the fact that the meaning, rhyme schemes and structure of a text should be analysed on the basis of the period in which it is written
and not according to the present day English.

Prerequisites:
Completion of the course Introduction to Linguistics is desirable.

Course Syllabus:
Topic/ Descriptor Weightage in
%
Module I: In the Beginning
1. Introduction to English Language
25
2. Language Situation in Britain before 450 ACE- Celts; Romanization of England;
3. English Language in the Mainland Continental Latin borrowings;
Module II: English Language in the British Isle 450-1500
1. Language Situation in the British Isle during the period 450-1500
2. Foreign Influences on Old English - Celtic, Latin, Scandinavian
3. Some characteristics of Old English Compound words, strong verbs, Word order, Winchester Vocabulary, Stress 25
Pattern;
4. Middle English 1066- 1500 French influence on pronunciation, vocabulary, Structure;
5. Language Situation in the British Isle during the period 1066- 1500
Module III: English Language in the British Isle 1500 Present 25
 1. Renaissance & Modern English 1500 - 1900; Socio political conditions that led to the resurgence of English
2. Language Situation in the British Isle during the period 1500 - 1900
3. Standardization of English; Spelling Reformation, Inkhorn Terms, Bible Translations, Publication of Dictionaries
4. Foreign Influences on Modern English - Latin, Greek, Indian languages, etc.
Module IV: From Island Tongue to World Language
1. English Language Situation in the Contemporary World 25
2. Major Characteristics of Indian English and American English

Student Learning Outcomes:

After the course is complete the student should be able to
Identify and describe mutation that English language developed over a period of time.
Apply the knowledge of the various language forms to analyse the texts that they study

Pedagogy:
The course will be primarily taught in lecture mode in which the major properties of English at different time periods will be explained.
Guidance will be given to the students to ask questions, explore options and encourage them to develop criteria to make informed
choices.
Contextualization of those developments of English will also be made.
Activities based on reading texts will be given to students to develop their capacity to function in an autonomous fashion where the
teacher is available as a resource person.

Assessment/ Examination Scheme:

Theory L/T (%) Lab/Practical/Studio (%) End Term Examination Total

30% NA 70% 100 %

Theory Assessment (L&T):

Continuous Assessment End Term Examination Total
Components CT S A EE
Weightage (%) 15 10 05 70 100

Text:
 Baugh, Albert C. A History of the English Language 5th edition. London: Rutledge, 2002.
References:
Crystal, David. Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the English Language 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Crystal, David. English as a Global Language 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Janson, Tore. History of Languages an Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2011.
Knowles, Gerry. A Cultural History of the English Language. London: Arnold, 1997.
Ramanathan, Vaidehi. English Vernacular Divide, The: Postcolonial Language Politics and Practice. Orient Black Swan, 2005.
Viney, Brigit. History of the English Language. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
Wood, F T. An Outline History of the English Language. Chennai: Macmillan, 2000.