GERM 450

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History of the German Language

German and Russian College of Humanities

Course Description

Linguistic survey of the German language from Indo-European to modern times, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon.

When Taught

Winter

Min

3

Fixed

3

Fixed

3

Fixed

0

Recommended

Germ 302; Germ 303; Germ 344

Title

Basic Principles and Processes of Language Change

Learning Outcome

1.  be able to discuss generally the basic principles and processes of language change regarding phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic change;

Title

Types of Language Change

Learning Outcome

2.  be able to identify examples of such types of language change as they pertain to the history of the German language, e.g., assimilation, affrication, etc.;

Title

Proto-Indo-European

Learning Outcome

3.  be able to provide a general description of Proto-Indo-European and its relationship to its daughter languages

Title

Changes that Distinguished Germanic from Proto-Indo-European

Learning Outcome

4.  be able to identify and describe the changes which distinguished Germanic from Proto-Indo-European including Grimm's Law, Sievers' Law, accent shift, etc.

Title

Relationship between Branches of Germanic

Learning Outcome

5.  be able to describe the relationship between the three main branches of Germanic, namely Gothic, Northern Germanic and West Germanic and outline the major Germanic languages, including the West Germanic languages;

Title

Changes Distinguishing West Germanic from other Germanic Bra

Learning Outcome

6.  be able to identify and describe the changes distinguishing West Germanic from other Germanic branches;

Title

Changes Distinguishing Germanic from West Germanic Languages

Learning Outcome

7.  be able to identify and describe the changes which distinguished German from the other West Germanic languages as well as the changes from Old High German to Middle High German to Modern German;

Title

Main Dialects of Old High German, Middle High German, and Mo

Learning Outcome

8.  be able to identify the main dialects of Old High German, Middle High German and Modern German and describe their location and distinguishing features;

Title

External Influences that Shaped the History of the German La

Learning Outcome

9.  understand and be able to describe the external influences which helped shape the history of the German language, e.g., Luther's influence, Charlemagne, the printing press,  grammarians, war, trade, etc.;

Title

German Dialects

Learning Outcome

10.  can outline and discuss the meaning of the word dialect in its linguistic sense and appreciate the various dialects of German as legitimate linguistic entities of equal value;.

Title

Why Language Changes

Learning Outcome

11. be able to describe reasons why languages change

Title

Research

Learning Outcome

12.  be able to carry out research on one aspect of the history of the Germanic languages and provide a brief and clear overview of a topic related to a change in one of the Germanic languages in both written and oral form to communicate my findings in a paper in a clear manner using primary literature (journal articles);

Title

Seeking Sources on Topics in Germanic Linguistics

Learning Outcome

13. be able to seek sources on topics in Germanic linguistics;

Title

Applying Learned Material to English and Other Languages

Learning Outcome

14.  be able to make connections between what we learn in class about the history of German to better understand English, the German language and how languages (including my own language use) can change and/or differ from others' language;

Title

Identifying Supporting Quotes

Learning Outcome

15.  be able to identify useful quotes that will help me support the thesis of my paper;

Title

Using Logical Arguments

Learning Outcome

16.  be able to argue my point effectively using a logical argument

Title

Identifying data that Supports an Argument

Learning Outcome

17.  be able to identify data that supports the arguments I am making or citing;

Title

Introducing and Citing Quotes

Learning Outcome

18  be able to introduce and cite quotes properly;

Title

Providing Adequate and Correct Citations

Learning Outcome

19.  be able to provide adequate and correct citations for the points I am making or drawing on from the works of others;