Test in the history of the English language -- Part II

   

   The test is based on the handbook A Guide to Pre-Modern English by J. Hladký. It contains
   questions from the areas listed below. During the test, students are allowed to use their own
   notes concerning the development of the sounds and the grammatical system of English. They are
   not allowed to use any handbooks or dictionaries, nor photocopies of pages from handbooks or
   dictionaries.

   

   1. The development of sounds (i.e. consonants, vowels, and diphthongs) from IE to ModE.

   2. The development of the grammatical system of the English language. (Focus on nouns, verbs,
   pronouns, and adjectives.)

   3. The influence of other languages upon the development of English.

   4. Analysis of selected grammatical categories of OE nouns (case, number), pronouns (case,
   number), and verbs (basic categories thematic/athematic, strong/weak,
   strong/preterite-present).

   5. Translation of short passages of OE texts. (One passage of a "prepared" text (without
   vocabulary) and one passage of an "unprepared" text accompanied with vocabulary.

   6. Transcription of the pronunciation of selected OE words.

   7. Translation of a short passage of a ME text.

   8. Transcription of the pronunciation of selected ME words.

   

   Main study material:

   Hladký. J. -- A Guide to Pre-Modern English (Theoretical parts dealing with the areas mentioned
   above and selected texts)

   

   Additional reading (optional, useful for deeper understanding):

   Vachek J. -- Historický vývoj angličtiny

   

   Recommended texts (i.e. "prepared" texts):

   

   OE:

   Our Father (West Saxon, end of 10^th century)

   The creation

   The ploughman

   The flood

   

   ME:

   Ormulum

   General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales (lines 1-55, and 79-100)

   

   NE:

   Shakespeare, W. -- Sonnet 18 (p. 291)