English 101

Other Readings and Media

Millward, Celia M.: A Biography of the English Language; Millward, Celia M.:  Workbook to Accompany a Biography of the English Language. 

Description

This course is designed to introduce you to the historical development of the English language, from its earliest recorded appearance to its current state as a world language. It will cover the ways in which languages are written down and how English has been written, the ways people have understood language to work in the past and in the present, the major developments in the grammar, syntax, and pronunciation of English over time, loan words and foreign influences on the word stock of English, and the social forces driving linguistic change in English. This is a course for anyone who loves words and is curious about their history or for anyone who is interested in developing a deeper knowledge of the structures of English, early and late.