Accessibility statement

Old English

Aims

Aims

In this module you will develop your understanding of the linguistic system of Old English (phonology, morphology and syntax) beyond the introductory level covered in History of English I. This knowledge will be developed and supported through data analysis and close, linguistically informed readings of Old English texts.

By the end of this module, students will:

  • have an understanding of some of the major aspects of the linguistic system of Old English (phonology, morphology, and syntax) and how they developed out of Germanic and Proto-Indo European
  • be able to read and analyse Old English in a linguistically informed way
  • have investigated in detail some of the major linguistic/philological issues in Old English linguistics.

Note that a Research Extension module can be taken alongside this module, for students who wish to write a dissertation.

This module will be capped at 35.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

  • E02C History of English I (LAN00002C)

This module assumes a basic familiarity with the structure of Old English, i.e. gender, case, verbal inflection, strong/weak verbs, etc. as covered in History of English I (Spring/Summer). We will review, as necessary, all points of grammar, so you are not expected to remember the details, just the concepts.

Information for visiting students: Basic reading knowledge of Old English, or good knowledge (native or learned) of German is required, along with at least introductory syntax and phonology.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

A minimum of 24 contact hours over two terms, made up of lectures, seminars, and practicals.

Teaching materials

  • Mitchell, Bruce & Fred C. Robinson (2001) A guide to Old English (6th edition). Oxford: Blackwell.

Additional readings will be made available through the VLE.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Formative assessment and feedback

  • Occasional exercises with oral or written feedback as appropriate.
  • Weekly reading of Old English texts with oral feedback on developing reading and analytic skills.

Summative assessment and feedback

  • Exercise
    • Linguistic analysis of a text passage
    • Due: Week 6, Summer term
    • Weight: 30%
  • Essay
    • Length: 3000 words
    • Due: Week 4, Summer term
    • Weight: 70%

Written feedback on summative assignments will be provided within three weeks.

Skills

Transferable skills developed in this module

All modules provide an opportunity to work on general oral/written communication skills (in class and in assessments) and general self management (organising your studies), alongside the specific skills in language or linguistics that the module teaches.

In addition, this module will allow you to particularly develop skills in the application of data analysis. In this module you will have the opportunity to analyse primary linguistic data (Old English texts) as well as to critically engage with the secondary literature. You will apply your existing linguistic knowledge and skills to solve new problems and tackle new questions.

Follow this link to hear how past students use transferable skills from their degree in their current jobs.

About this module

  • Module name
    Old English
  • Course code
    E51H (LAN00051H)
  • Teacher
    Ann Taylor
  • Term(s) taught
    Spring/summer
  • Credits
    20