126-461 Historical grammar of German

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This subject will only be run if there is a minimum of six participants.

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Subject Description

There is an historical explanation for every aspect of German grammar. The science of historical linguistics is based on both a hypothesis, namely that all languages in a language family have derived from a common ancestor, as well as on a proven fact, namely that languages change over time. This subject will chiefly deal with the concept of language change. Such issues as the following will be explained: why does one say 'er haßt' but 'er läßt', 'die Mäuse' but 'die Häuser', 'er stand' but 'er stünde', and why does one hear both 'wegen des Wetters' and 'wegen dem Wetter'? If the explanations of such linguistic matters interest you, then you are interested in historical linguistics, the subject matter of this course. Students who complete this subject should: have an understanding of the processes that lead to language change; have a better understanding of the many 'exceptions' to the grammatical rules of German; have a greater understanding of the differences that exist between English and German and how these evolved historically; have learnt how to consult etymological dictionaries and to interpret the often cryptic data given; have gained an appreciation for, and interest in, etymology and historical grammar.

Assessment

A three-hour examination.

Prescribed Texts

Stencils.