Theme 1: theoretical background of roman-germanic languages subject: the history of the english language

The aims of the subject

The main aim of the subject is to give broad information about the historical development of the English language. The learners will also get some valuable information about how the English language became an international language from a language that was spoken by approximately four million people in a little island. Though learning the history of the English language the student achieves a variety of aims, both theoretical and practical. The history of the English language is of considerable interest to all students of English, since the English language of today reflects many centuries of development.

Moreover...

- the subject is aimed to give detailed information about the linguistic peculiarities of the English language in each period of its development and changes that took place in different layers of the language. 

The tasks of the subject

The main task of the subject is to give some theoretical information about the history of the English language and other issues related to it. This subject also provides information about some linguistic features of the English language, its variants and prepares mature learners with complete theoretical information. 

Key words: family of languages, classification of languages, genetically related and non-related languages, quantitative aspect, typological aspect, sociolinguistic aspect, language situation and planning, linguistic changes, historicalcomparative method, phonetic peculiarities, the First consonant shift, Verner‘s Law, Rhotacism, language family, genealogical language features.. 

The word Philology is used to denote two disciplines; or aspects of human activity.

• The word Philology is used to denote two disciplines; or aspects of human activity.
•  1. The study of human records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form and determination of their meaning. 
• 2. Linguistics. This word is from Greek and it means ―love of learning and literature‖. Linguistics is the branch of Philology which deals with the study of the theoretical and practical problems of language functioning: system, structure and usage.