ENG4103 - Historical English Syntax
Course content
This course gives an introduction to some of the most important (morpho)syntactic changes in the English language in the period c.1380-1800, i.e. late Middle English and early Modern English. These changes are described, and possible explanatory models are presented; language as a system is vital in this respect. The corpus linguistic method is used to extract relevant data, which are analysed and collated with traditional accounts of linguistic change in English.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- gained the ability to account for some of the most important (morpho)syntactic changes in English in the period 1380-1800;
- learned how to date and describe these changes, but also to place them in a larger perspective as part of a linguistic system.
- gained the ability to present possible explanations for the changes in question;
- learned how to extract and analyse relevant data from linguistic corpora of historical English.
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Id does not exist in shared textRecommended previous knowledge
It is highly recommended that students have taken ENG2156 - History of the English Language or ENG4156 - History of the English Language course or a similar course in English historical linguistics.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for 10 weeks, 20 hours in total.
Attendance is an obligatory class requirement (80%), and students are expected to take an active part in class discussions. Additional absences must be justified (please contact the exam coordinator).
Students are required to submit one qualifying paper of 5 standard pages (c.2300 characters per page) at an appointed time. The essay must be approved by the course teachers for the student to be allowed to take the exam.
Access to teaching
Id does not exist in shared textExamination
The exam consists of a term paper of 10 pages on one of the topics investigated in this course.
You submit your paper in Fronter in the course's "fellesrom". Read more about submission procedures
Examination support material
Id does not exist in shared textLanguage of examination
Id does not exist in shared textEnglish
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.
Resit an examination
You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.