English

ERIC ED028182: Unit 1201: A Historical Study of English Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax.

This unit for grade 12 is concerned with both the methods and purposes of the historical study of phonology, morphology, and syntax in the English language. The introduction to the unit illustrates language change in Old, Middle, and Modern English versions of "The Prodigal Son" and examines the causes of current language changes as preparation for understanding that the same causes operated in the past. A study of phonological changes leads the students to investigate vowel changes from the time of Chaucer to the present; to understand assimilation, metathesis, and dissimilation; and to comprehend reasons for the changes. Morphological differences are examined in two dialects of Middle English, in Old, Middle, and Modern English versions of "The Lord's Prayer," and in different versions of "The Canterbury Tales." In addition, past and present cultural subgroups are shown to have affected morphology; and morphological change and contact with other cultures are shown to have contributed to syntactic change. Suggested lectures, discussion questions, and worksheets are included, and appendices contain an outline of unit 905 (see TE 001 273) which deals with lexical change. (JS)

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