Linguistics/English 5319 English Historical Linguistics Spring The Purpose of the Course

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1 Linguistics/English 5319 English Historical Linguistics Spring 2010 The Purpose of the Course LING 5319 is designed to introduce students to the study of the History of the English language with attention to both modern linguistic methodologies and more traditional philological approaches to the topic. Students enrolled in this course will be expected to engage actively on these questions. How can an understanding of the nature of human language help us understand changes in English? What is known about the pre-historic origins of English? How is English related to other languages and how has the claim regarding these relationships been established? What was the language we call Old English like? What was the historical context in which Old English was established in what had been Roman Britannia. What was English like in the Medieval period and what forces, linguistic and extra-linguistic, shaped Middle English? When did early Modern English emerge and what were the factors entered into its formation? How has Modern English continued to change since the Renaissance? How has English developed as a set of diverse yet unified varieties since the 19 th century? How are historical forces and cultural innovation producing continuing change in English? p.2 Catalog Description LING 5319 English Historical Linguistics (3-0) The development of English from its beginnings to Modern English. A study of the changes in the phonological, morphological, and syntactic systems. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

2 Linguistics 5319 as UT TeleCampus Course The instructional activities and examinations in this course will be conducted entirely through UT TeleCampus-accessed materials and learning activities. All instructional activities will be carried out in an asynchronous ("anywhere, anytime") mode. Still, LING 5319 is a paced course, which means that all students will be required to keep on schedule with Forum Recitations, Assignments, and other active learning aspects of the course. Moreover, exams will be date-specific. To take this UT TeleCampus Blackboard course, it is necessary to have access to the Web as well as reliable . Many students taking this or other online courses use university facilities while others connect and communicate from home or elsewhere. In addition, you will also need to have Macromedia Flash for the audio. Attendance and Time Management To be successful in this course, you must engage actively and seriously with the online learning support materials several times a week. Online courses take as much, if not more time than classes that meet in the traditional classroom. Online learning requires maturity, responsibility, and a capacity for self-discipline. Be sure to check course announcements at least three-four times a week to keep yourself abreast of course updates and reminders. The rule of thumb for time planning for a course is approximately three hours for every credit hour taken. This is a standard figure recommended across the board by American universities. So for this course you should expect to spend about nine hours a week. More Tips on How to be Successful in an Online Course Online learning is not a spectator sport. It is everyone's responsibility to participate as fully as they can so everyone can get the most from the experience. Here are some simple rules to follow to ensure your participation and engagement in the learning process: Ask questions: If you don't know the answer, someone else will. The ASK-ME area of the discussion board is the forum for asking questions related to content OR any problems you are having. Make sure that you have clearly indicated the subject of your message. Reach out to others: Offer a fact, article, link or other item that can help others learn something you can share. Stay focused: Stay on topic to increase the efficiency of your learning. Students often like to converse socially. To do this, you are strongly encouraged to go to Rosa's Cantina and socialize with your classmates online. While this is

3 not a graded area. Please remember, I occasionally do drop in and socialize myself. What to expect from your instructor 1. I will provide you clear instructions on class expectations. 2. I will check my often, probably daily, will answer mail from you as quickly as possible. 3. If it is possible and within reason, I will return phone calls related to class activities in a timely manner. Note that in Spring 2008 I will be teaching this course from a remote assignment location and will not be able to return phone calls. 4. I will enter grades for Recitations and Assignments in a timely manner. 5. I am always open to suggestions about improvement of the class and class related activities and welcome your notes on typos, etc. in the course. 6. I will do all I can to support your efforts to succeed in the course. Technical Assistance The University of Texas TeleCampus Help Desk is open 24/7. You can call their toll free number or fill in the UTTC Support Request form at

4 Course Materials The text book for this course is Algeo, John and Thomas Pyles (2004) The Origins and Development of the English Language, 5 rd ed. Thomson-Wadsworth ISBN: X. The materials at the UTCC Blackboard course site are coordinated with the presentation of topics in the assigned text. Supplemental materials will be available at the instructional site or via www links. Additional and optional standard handbooks that students are encouraged to consult include: Baugh, Albert C. and Thomas Cable. A History of the English Language (various editions). Prentice Hall. Nist, John. A Structural History of the English Language. (1966) St. Martin's Press. Myers, L.M. (1966) The Roots of Modern English. Little, Brown and Company. There are a number of sites on the Internet where one can shop for books, new or used. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

5 NOTE: You should round up a copy of one of these texts soon. Remember, Online purchases can take a week or more. Activity Schedule Chapters refer to the assigned textbook MODULE 1 Jan Chapter 1 MODULE 2 Jan 26 - Feb 1 Chapter 2 MODULE 3 Feb 2-8 Chapter 3 EXAM Feb 9 Exam #1 (Chapters 1-3) MODULE 4 Feb Chapter 4 MODULE 5 Feb 20 - Mar 1 Chapter 5 EXAM Mar 2 Exam #2 (Chapters 4-5) MODULE 6 Mar 3-12 Chapter 6 MODULE 7 Mar Chapter 7 MODULE 8 Apr 1 - Apr 6 Chapter 8 EXAM Apr 7 Exam #3 (Chapters 6-8) MODULE 9 Apr 8-13 Chapter 9 MODULE 10 Apr Chapter 10 MODULE 11 Apr Chapter 11 MODULE 12 Apr 29 - May 6 Chapter 12 FINAL EXAM May 10 Exam #4 (Course, esp. 9-12)

6 Course Schedule and Grading Changes As course instructor I reserve the right to adjust the course syllabus or change assignments as needed. I will be sure to give you plenty of notice prior to any changes. Cheating/Plagiarism Cheating is unethical and not acceptable. Plagiarism is the use information or original wording in a paper without giving credit to the source of that information or wording and that too is not acceptable. Do not submit work under your name that you did not do yourself. You may not submit work for this class that you did for another class. If you are found to be cheating or plagiarizing, you will be subject to disciplinary action. You may refer to the Regent Rules and Regulations at Students with Disabilities If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to identify yourself. You can do this by contacting the Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO) on your campus to show documentation of a disability or to register for testing and services. Students who have been designated as disabled must reactivate their standing with the DSSO yearly.

7 Effective Electronic Communication A Word of Caution At this point in the course, it is also important to share a word of caution, so we can become wiser about interpersonal distance learning communications. When communicating electronically, many of the feelings or impressions that are transmitted via body language in face-to-face communication are lost. Consequently, interpreting emotions and shades of communicative intent is much more difficult. Only what is written or drawn carries the message. Often excitement can be misinterpreted as anger or an insult. It is important that we all keep this in mind as we communicate electronically. Words in print may seem harmless but could emotionally injure a distant learner. IMPORTANT: Avoid the use of caps in your electronic messages as wording in caps comes across as shouting. Using the Subject Line on Posts and Messages ( ): Always take care to write something appropriate on the subject line. Do not simply reply to a previous post or message ( ) and leave an earlier, non-relevant, subject line description. Adding Body Language to Your Messages More information on Netiquette can be found at:

8 Dr. Charles Elerick is Professor of Languages and Linguistics at the University of Texas at El Paso. He studied Spanish and Latin at the University of New Mexico. He received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Texas in He has taught Historical English Linguistics for many years at UTEP in a traditional classroom. With respect to teaching online, he has writen "Online instruction is particularly appropriate for this material. The data and concepts in a course dealing with language history are often totally new to students. The online format gives the student a chance to look at carefully assembled language data and notes on what the data means. And the online format gives students the opportunity to engage purposefully in class activities in ways that are simply not possible in the face-to-face setting". Contact Information: Name Dr. Charles G. Elerick Address The University of Texas at El Paso Languages & Linguistics Mail Code: El Paso, TX Campus Telephone Address celerick@utep.edu