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Module

SEL3341 : Old English: Texts and Translations

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Adam Mearns
  • Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This module gives you the chance to develop skills in reading and translating Old English (OE), based on the foundation of an understanding of its grammar and vocabulary. Lecture materials introduce the main linguistic features of OE, while small group sessions and discussions focus on issues involved in the translation of texts, using knowledge of the linguistic features. We also make use of some online materials, including hypertext editions of OE texts, dictionaries, and the Thesaurus of Old English. The reading covers an interesting range of texts, providing insights into aspects of Anglo-Saxon life and culture, as well as the Old English language. Most of the texts are prose, but there are also extracts from the poetry, including Beowulf, where we compare the original text with a variety of different published translations.

Outline Of Syllabus

In support of the process of translating selected extracts of OE texts throughout the semester, the topics covered include: the origins and historical context of Old English (OE), and the sources of evidence available to us; OE orthography and phonology; OE morphology (inflections and case); OE syntax (clause elements and word order); spelling variation and sound changes in OE; nouns, adjectives and verbs in OE; OE vocabulary (semantics, word formation and loans); OE poetic style and diction; translation studies in general and approaches to translating OE in particular.

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable