Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
This course surveys topics in historical linguistics, covering most subfields of theoretical linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics) and drawing on a variety of languages. Special attention will be paid to the histories of the Sinitic and Germanic families, represented respectively by Mandarin and English.
能力項目說明
Course Objectives:
(1) To introduce students to basic methodologies and topics in historical linguistics;
(2) To develop observational and analytical skills necessary for linguistic research;
(3) To broaden metalinguistic knowledge of at least Mandarin and English and their diachronic layers.
Learning Outcomes:
(1) Academic skills:
(a) Ability to engage critically with previous studies;
(b) Ability to design own research projects;
(c) Ability to collect and analyse data.
(2) Transferable skills:
(a) Ability to evaluate and process complex information;
(b) Ability to produce complex information in an accessible way;
(c) Knowledge of various linguistic phenomena in the histories of at least Mandarin and English (including but not limited to morphophonology) that is conducive to the teaching of Mandarin and/or English.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
Each week after Week 1, the last contact hour will be a tutorial session, where active participation is expected.
|
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
Activities |
|
1 |
Introduction |
Lecture |
|
|
2 |
Sound change |
Campbell Ch. 2 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
3 |
Borrowing & analogical change |
Campbell Chs. 3 & 4 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
4 |
The Comparative Method |
Campbell Ch. 7 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
5 |
Holiday |
||
|
6 |
Internal Reconstruction |
Campbell Ch. 8 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
7 |
Classification |
Campbell Ch. 9 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
8 |
Sinitic sound change | Shen Ch. 1 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
9 |
Sinitic classification |
Shen Chs. 3 & 4 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
10 |
Midterm Exam |
||
|
11 |
Semantic change |
Campbell Ch. 6 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
12 |
Morphosyntax I |
Campbell Ch. 11 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
13 |
Morphosyntax II - Mandarin |
Shi Ch. 6 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
14 |
Morphosyntax III - English |
Fischer et al. Ch. 6 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
|
15 |
Contact |
Campbell Ch. 10 |
Lecture/Tutorial |
| 16 | Wrap up | ||
|
18 |
Final essay due |
||
10%: Attendance
20%: In-class participation
30%: Midterm exam
40%: Final essay
A list of essay topics will be provided. Alternatively, an essay may deal with any topic as long as approved by the course organiser.
Main readings:
Campbell, Lyle. 2020. Historical linguistics: An introduction, 4th edition. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh Press.
Shen, Zhongwei. 2020. A phonological history of Chinese. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Shi, Yuzhi. 2023. The evolution of Chinese Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fischer, Olga, Hendrik De Smet & Wim van der Wurff. 2017. A brief history of English syntax. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Supplementary readings will also be provided.