230403 John Walmsley, Language Variation: Etymology (Thursday 10-12)

1. Broadly speaking, Etymology is concerned with the historical study of words. This involves both the meanings of words (lexical semantics) and their forms (phonology, orthography). From time to time we are struck by apparent oddities in our own or other people's languages: Why is the German word for window not ``Guckloch''? Where does the word window come from? How did English spelling get like it is? Why do we spell island (``ile'') with an s, or rhyme (``rime'') with an h? Many dictionaries, especially older ones, give information as to a word's ancestry under the relevant entry. All these facts constitute part of Etymology.
2. Part of the work of Etymology consists of reconstructing earlier forms on the basis of known correspondences between languages, and studying how words were used in context. To do this, one needs an ability to read the languages and an understanding of the genetic relations between languages (``language families'') and of the nature of linguistic systems at successive stages of development. One also needs a sound foundation in Phonology and Phonetics, and the relations between them, and also in Orthography and its relation to Phonology and Phonetics.
3. The seminar is conceived as a continuation of introductory courses in Old English and/or Middle English. For Historians (Magister, HF, NF) it is part of ``Weitere Veranstaltungen des Hauptstudiums''. For Lehramtskandidat/inn/en it constitutes two further hours of TG A4 ``Historische Aspekte der englischen Sprache''. A precondition for attendance is the successful completion of an introductory course in Old or Middle English. Expect to have your proficiency tested in the usual way in the second week.

If you wish to attend the seminar you must participate actively and regularly (maximum three absences). If you wish to work for a qualification in this seminar (QSN, LN) you must arrange it with me as soon as possible, and certainly not later than 30th September (deadline!).

Recommended Reading:

Bammesberger, A. (1984). English Etymology. Heidelberg: Winter.

Ross, A. S. C. (1969). Etymology. With Special Reference to English. London: Deutsch.