Introduction to Historical Linguistics

This course is an introduction to historical linguistics, the study of language change over time. It covers the fundamental aspects of language change (semantic, phonological, morphological, and syntactic), as well as the techniques and procedures involved in investigating these changes. Students study the comparative method, learn how to demonstrate or refute genetic relationships between languages, and try their hand at reconstruction of prehistoric phases of languages. The course further addresses the issues of long-range comparisons, externally (socially) and internally (structurally) motivated language change, and language contact. More culturally oriented topics, such as evolution of writing, decipherment of forgotten writing systems, and language and prehistory (linguistic paleontology) are likewise explored.