ENG501 Official Handouts

Table of Contents

Lesson No. Lesson Title Topics Pg. No. Lesson 01 Topic 1 to 5

Lesson 02 What do we Study in the History of a Language? Topic 6 to 10

Lesson 03 Basic Terms related to Language and Language History Topic 11 to 15

Lesson 04 Introduction to English Language Topic 16 to 20

Lesson 05 Importance of History of English Language Topic 21 to 25

Lesson 06 Historical Development of (English) Language and Related TermsPart-1 Topic 26 to 30

Lesson 07 Historical Development of (English) Language and Related TermsPart 2 Topic 31 to 35

Lesson 08 Main Stages in the Development of English Language Topic 36 to 40

Lesson 09 Introduction to Old English: Birth of EnglishPrehistoric to Germanic History Topic 41 to 45

Lesson 10 Some Historical Facts about Old English Topic 45 to 50

Lesson 11 Features of Old English: Pronunciation and Vocabulary Topic 51 to 55

Lesson 12 The Grammar of Old English Topic 56 to 60

Lesson 13 Discussion on Samples of Old English Topic 61 to 65

Lesson 14 Moving towards Middle English: The Norman Conquest (10661200) Topic 66 to 70

Lesson 15 The Re-establishment of English in Middle English Period Topic 71 to 75

Lesson 16 Middle English in 14th and 15th Centuries Topic 76 to 80

Lesson 17 Features of Middle English: Writing and Pronunciation Topic 81 to 85

Lesson 18 The Grammar of Middle English Topic 86 to 90

Lesson 19 Vocabulary of Middle English and Moving towards Standardization Topic 91 to 95

Lesson 20 Discussion on Samples of Middle English Topic 96 to 100

Lesson 21 Topic 101 to 105

Lesson 22 Topic 106 to 110 Lesson 23 Topic 111 to 115

Lesson 24 Topic 116 to 120

Lesson 25 Overview of the Development of Renaissance English Topic 121 to 125

Lesson 26 Topic 126 to 130

Lesson 27 Topic 131 to 135

Lesson 28 Topic 136 to 140

Lesson 29 Topic 141 to 145

Lesson 30 Introduction to Modern English Topic 146 to 150

Lesson 31 Standardization of English in the 19th and 20th Century Topic 151 to 155

Lesson 32 19th and 20th Century English: Tendencies Topic 156 to 160

Lesson 33 Expansion of the General Vocabulary in Today’s English Topic 161 to 165

Lesson 34 English as World Language Topic 166 to 170

Lesson 35 Introduction to American English Topic 171 to 175

Lesson 36 American Vs British English: A Comparison Topic 176 to 180

Lesson 37 Australian English Topic 181 to 185

Lesson 38 South-Asian English Topic 186 to 190

Lesson 39 English language in 21st Century: Features of Englishes Topic 191 to 195

Lesson 40 Future of English Topic 196 to 200

Lesson 01

Topic- 001: What is Language?

Language is a method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. Language is any nonverbal method of expression or communication.

Language is a system of ordinary/usual spoken or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group, express themselves. Hence, Language is a tool through which we can express ourselves.

In this lecture, with reference to the following definitions, it is discussed that the term language is used in various ways:

• “The words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a community.” (Definition of Language by Merriam-Webster
• A systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks - the language of mathematics.
• A formal system of signs and symbols (such as calculus in logic) including rules for the formation and transformation of expressions.
• Form or manner of verbal expression; specifically style- the beauty of Shakespeare's language.
• The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge- the language of diplomacy medical language.
• Specific words especially in a law or regulation e.g. the police were diligent in enforcing the language of the law.

Topic – 002: Features of Language

There are certain features of human language that distinguish it from other means of communication.

1. Displacement: It is the ability to talk about times, places and people other than the ‘here and now’: to say things which we know to be false. Language is a system of ordinary/usual spoken or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group, express themselves. Hence, Language is a tool through which we can express ourselves.