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English 121

English 121. Topics 1. Origins of English 2. Basics of Language. Origins of English: How do we know about this?. The Venerable Bede tells us that the Scots and the Picts in the north were driving the Britons to the sea. The king of the Britons, King Vortigern, looks for help.

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English 121

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  1. English 121 Topics 1. Origins of English 2. Basics of Language

  2. Origins of English: How do we know about this?

  3. The Venerable Bede tells us that the Scots and the Picts in the north were driving the Britons to the sea. The king of the Britons, King Vortigern, looks for help. Where did he turn?

  4. No Match for the farmers of BritonNo help from Rome

  5. Origins of English: Invasion by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes

  6. Further immigration by these Germanic tribes (particularly Angles and Saxons) lead to…

  7. English is a Germanic Language

  8. But what do we mean by language? • Communication? • Speech? • Writing? • Sounds? • Words? • Sentences? • ?????

  9. What is linguistics?

  10. Subfields of Linguistics • Phonology • Morphology • Syntax • Semantics • Pragmatics • Language Variation

  11. Phonology How do sounds form words? bat----bats bag----bags bus----busses How do “bats”, “bags”, and “busses” sound different?

  12. Different sounds • bat-S • bag-Z • bus-IZ How do you know this?

  13. Nonsense words • blit • blag • blus

  14. What do you get? • blitS • blagZ • blusIZ

  15. Morphology • Meaningful units of language that are not necessarily words • I am happy. • I am unhappy. What is “un”?

  16. Morphology (cont’d.) 1. I agree with you. • My agreement with you was not successful. • He is agreeable. • What is “-ment”? • What is “-able”?

  17. Syntax: How do words combine to form sentences? Inevitable the of was city destruction the. Is this an acceptable sentence?

  18. Semantics • The study of word meaning. • What is the relationship between a r-o-c-k and what it represents? Meaning in language is largely arbitrary.

  19. Pragmatics • The relationship between language and context that is necessary for meaning. Example…

  20. “I am 85 years old.”

  21. What is the problem with this? • Context tells you that it is not true. • The sentence is perfectly formed.

  22. A more complex example “Mary wanted to buy a present for Sarah. She went to her piggy bank and shook it. There was no noise. Mary decided that she would have to make a present for Sarah.” How does shaking a bank lead Mary to her conclusion?

  23. Language Variation • What do you call this?

  24. What do you call this?

  25. What do you call this?

  26. Any other examples?

  27. How do you say… • caught • cot • bat • New York • pin • pen

  28. Any others?

  29. What do you say when something is fun? • That was awesome! • That was the bomb! • That was a hoot! • That was a rip-roaring time!

  30. How do you ask your professor for some extra time on an assignment? Choose the best answer: a. I need time. Give it to me. b. Would it be possible to hand in my assignment late, please?

  31. Language Variation • Language varies by: • Region • Time • Age • Social class • Gender • Context

  32. Subfields of Language • Phonology • Morphology • Syntax • Semantics • Pragmatics • Language variation

  33. Homework handed out (Due 09/08) • Next class: • SOE chapter 1 (“An English-Speaking World”)

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