This interdisciplinary course deals with the origin of the English language, its characteristic and place amongst the Indo-European family of languages, as well as its stages of development in its cultural context. The introduction to core regional varieties of Modern English is part of the course.
Topics: 1.Synchronic vs., diachronic approach to language study; 2.English in its historical and cultural environment - Old English; 3.Middle English (1100 - 1500) and Early Modern English; 4.English in the context of world languages; the Varieties of Modern English; 5.British vs. American English from both the diachronic and synchronic point of view;