ENGLISH

Y
M.A. (Previous)
Paper - I :
History of English Language
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Lessons 1 - 30

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SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
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SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

ANDHRA UNIVERSITY
VISAKHAPATNAM
 Editor

M.V. RAJA KUMAR

(Retd.)
Asst. Professor in English
School of Distance Education
Andhra University, Waltair
Ph.: 9848211100

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 M.A. ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
(Previous) SYLLABUS
(Revised Syllabus under UNIT System with effect from 1998-99)

Paper - I : History of English Language

Text books :

1. F.T. Wood : Current English Usage

2. A.C.Baugh : History of English Language

References :

3. Bradley : The Making of English

4. R. Quirk : Usage of English
5. O. Jesperson : The Growth and Structure of English Language
6. Simeon Potter : Our Language
7. C.L. Wrenn : The English Language

Unit - 1 - Comprises of Part A Translation from Middle English and word notes,
and Part B correction of sentences and distinguishing between pairs of words.

In Part A The first 207 lines from the Middle English version of Chaucer’s
Prologue to the Canterbury Tales is prescribed. Five marks are allotted for translation
of ten lines (choice of one out of two passages) and five marks for five words notes to be
Selected from the 207 lines prescribed.

In Part B 5 marks for correction carrying of five sentences, and 5 marks for
question of distinguishing between pairs of words to be given from F.T. Wood,
Current English Usage.

UNIT - 2 - Baugh : Chapter 1 - 4

UNIT - 3 - Baugh : Chapter 5 - 7

UNIT - 4- Baugh : Chapter 8 & 9

UNIT - 5 - Baugh : Chapter 10 & 11

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 CONTENTS
Sl.No. Particulars Pg. No.
1. General Introduction .................................................................................................. 01
2. Chaucer ..................................................................................................................... 14
Prologue to Canterbury Tales (Translation)
3. Pairs of Similar Words : Usage .................................................................................... 28
4. Pairs of Similar Words : Usage (contd..) ...................................................................... 37
5. Usage (Contd.,) .......................................................................................................... 43
6. English as an International Language .......................................................................... 47
7. The Great Consonant Shift ......................................................................................... 50
8. Ablaut (Vowel Gradation) & Umlaut (I-Mutation) ........................................................ 54
9. The Indo - European Family Languages ..................................................................... 57
10. Some Characteristics of Old English ............................................................................ 62
11. Word - Formation in Old English ................................................................................ 66
12. Celtic and Latin .......................................................................................................... 69
13. The Scandinavian Influence ....................................................................................... 73
14. Change in Middle English Grammar ........................................................................... 78
Norman Conquest and Re - Establishment of English .................................................. 83
15. French Influence of Middle English .............................................................................. 86
Middle English Literature ............................................................................................ 92
16. Rise of Standard English and Renaissance : Efforts at Spelling Reform ........................ 94
17. Grammatical developments and enrichment of vocabulary during the Renaissance ..... 99
18. The great vowel shifts and its influence on English Spelling ....................................... 106
19. Rise and fall of the idea of an English Academy ........................................................ 108
20. Development of English Dictionaries ......................................................................... 111
21. English Dictionaries .................................................................................................. 116
22. The influence of the translations of the Bible ............................................................. 119
23. Influence of Shakespeare .......................................................................................... 121
24. American Dialects ..................................................................................................... 123
25. Features of American English Vocabulary and Usage................................................. 125
26. Slang ........................................................................................................................ 129
27. Changes of Meaning - Semantics .............................................................................. 132
28. Grammatical Developments since the Renaissance ................................................... 134
29. Word formation in Modern English ........................................................................... 136
Spelling reform - some recent developments ............................................................. 139
30. Short Notes .............................................................................................................. 141
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