Linguistics 1100, S24, The history of words

Description

This course is divided into two main parts. The first part provides general background, covering the history of English from its reconstructed prehistoric roots to the modern day with a focus on vocabulary (rather than on overall history, which would include the grammar). Against this backdrop, the second part of the course highlights various specific topics, including the retention and loss of features inherited from Proto-Indo-European, semantic change, different sources of new vocabulary, taboo language, and slang.

Readings

All readings are available online on the syllabus. Any handouts and other supplementary material will also be made available there in the course of the semester.

Requirements

Feel free to discuss assignments with each other, but please submit individual work. It is too difficult to compare joint work to individual work. For instance, if a group of four students divides up the work of one assignment and then pools it in a common submission, do I give each student 25% of full credit? Or do I give each student full credit even though they're not putting the same amount of work that another student might be?
Your grade will be based on the following components (which will be posted on Canvas and which you will submit there):

Extra credit?

There is no extra credit or resubmission of assignments for regrading. Both are unfair to the other students, both in this year and across years.