This course surveys the development of English from the fifth century until the present, including the historical and cultural contexts of changes in the language. Old, Middle, and Early Modern English texts will be examined in terms of phonology, graphology, morphology, lexicon, syntax, and semantics. Topics such as the effects of cultural and technological developments, dialectal variation, and genetic affiliations may also be examined.

CILO-1: Describe the theories and methods used to examine and understand the history and development of English. CILO-2: Analyze spoken and written texts from historical perspectives. CILO-3: Describe how English has developed lexical, phonological and syntactic variations across four periods (Anglo Saxon, Middle English, Early Modern English and Present Day English). CILO-4: Develop and construct a portfolio of individual and group work that illustrates the historical development of the English languages.