ENG367Y: History of the English Language

Modern English Vocabulary assignment

NOTE CHANGE FROM HARD COPY IN BOLD BELOW! Due: by 6 pm on Thursday October 31^st, 2002.
Length: about 5 typed pages (1250 words)
Late? 2% per working day (not Sat or Sun) to a maximum of 10 days/2 weeks.

Not accepted thereafter without official/persuasive/relevant documentation.

Handing in: Either to me personally in class, or to the Wetmore Hall Porter at New College (north building near the athletic centre).

Purpose

After completing this assignment, you should be able to:

• identify the main methods of enlarging (a subset of) the PDE lexicon
• draw some reasonable conclusions from the patterns you have found
• use the printed and online editions of the OED competently and critically

1. Pick one of these two topics:
• (a) Words "first cited" in the OED in 1972. (Watch out for later editions of earlier texts.)
• (b) A very specific variety of PDE with which you are familiar – e.g., an occupational variety that is represented in a periodical. This might include computer programming, dungeons and dragons, music recording, human resources, etc. It should be represented in published writing so that I can evaluate your work!
2. Generate some finite/representative written data.
• (a) For the 1972 topic, use the online OED’s search capabilities to produce a "sample 100" (see the back of this sheet).
• (b) Find some written, published text that you think is representative of your variety. Submit a copy of this to me with your paper, please.
3. What are the main means of enlarging the vocabulary (note change from handout: word-formation? loans? semantic change?) used in your sample? Exemplify your patterns with specific, representative examples.
4. Draw some persuasive, reasonable, interesting conclusions from your observations. Remember that (page 481 of this year’s Calendar) "Excellent" and "Good" grades reflect your "original thinking, good organization, capacity to analyze and synthesize ... sound critical evaluations".
5. How useful is the OED for answering this question?