Lehrende/r: Ramsen Pithyou
Veranstaltungsart: online: Proseminar
Anzeige im Stundenplan: 05.008.160
Semesterwochenstunden: 2
Credits: 6,0
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch
Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 45
Anmeldegruppe: Engl. Ling. 160
Prioritätsschema: Senatsrichtlinie Zulassung gemäß Richtlinie über den Zugang zu teilnahmebeschränkten Lehrveranstaltungen vom 07. März 2007. Nähere Informationen hierzu entnehmen Sie bitte www.info.jogustine.uni-mainz.de/senatsrichtlinie
Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches: It is recommended that students have already heard and passed the introductory lecture “Introduction to English linguistics”. Priorly acquired knowledge of phonetic transcription might indeed serve useful, but is not a prerequisite in order to participate in this proseminar. In addition, please be aware that you cannot enroll in this course if you have not yet passed the language proficiency test.
Inhalt: This proseminar is designed as a survey course with the main aim of providing an overview of the most important stages of the English language as well as the changes that it has experienced throughout time. We will start off by briefly describing historical linguistics as a scientific discipline and research methods as well as material evidence of relevance to it. Next, we will trace the origins of English as a Germanic language and we will continue by taking a closer look at the three most prominent phases of the English language, namely Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English. For each stage, we will examine the respective historical and sociopolitical circumstances in which the language was used as well as analyze linguistic developments characteristic of the language stage in question. Developments leading to the rise of Present-Day English will also be addressed. A major concern of this seminar is to make students aware of the dynamics of language change. In other words, it will become evident that language is a medium that is permanently in flux. Additionally, students will be enabled to compare Present-Day English with the previous language phases and identify both changes that have occurred in the course of history as well as “old” linguistic remnants still relevant for the present.
Digitale Lehre: This proseminar is taught entirely online by means of weekly synchronous/live meetings via MS Teams. Students are asked to be available during the course times indicated here on Jogustine. Between the end of the second registration period and our first live session, I will write you an e-mail or a message in order to inform you about the platforms that we will be using for the distribution of material as well as further correspondence etc. Please also make sure that you check your university mail account regularly. If you have not done so already: redirect the messages to an account that you have regular access to. If any questions or doubts arise throughout the semester, please do not hesitate to contact me either via e-mail (rapithyo@uni-mainz.de) or via the chat function of MS teams (search for “rapithyo”). I will get back to you as quickly as possible. If you rather wish to speak to me after any given session, please let me know beforehand.
