758: Comparative and Historical Grammar of the Old Germanic Languages, 3 cr.
Howell, MWF, 11
Prerequisite: graduate standing
This course provides an introduction to the methods and principles of comparative grammar as well as an overview of the Germanic languages. We will give particular emphasis to North Sea Germanic, those dialects of West Germanic spoken by peoples inhabiting coastal areas on both sides of the English Channel. Topics in phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon are covered. We will read sample texts from each of the early Germanic languages as well.
Students will develop a paper topic of their choice in the course of the semester, and there will be two take-home examinations as well.
Required texts:
- Robinson, Orrin W. 1993. Old English and its Closest Relatives. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
