126-461 Historical Grammar of German

37.5 points of second/third year subjects. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject offers an historical explanation for aspects of German grammar. The science of historical linguistics is based on a hypothesis, that all languages in a language family have derived from a common ancestor and, a proven fact, that languages change over time. This subject will deal with both the concept of language change and issues of historical linguistics. Students who complete this subject should have an understanding of the processes that lead to language change; have an understanding of the many 'exceptions' to the grammatical rules of German; have an understanding of the differences that exist between English and German and how these evolved historically; have learnt to consult etymological dictionaries and to interpret the data given; have gained an appreciation for, and interest in, etymology and historical grammar.