3 credits

The course will address: (1) Processes of language change (phonetic,
phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic); (2)Major sound
laws, such as Grimm's law, Grassmann's law, and the great English
vowel shift; (3) methods of historical reconstruction, primarily the
Comparative Method and Internal Reconstruction, (4) the nature and
principles of phylogenetic classification and subgrouping, and (5)
Effects of language contact on language change. Out of class work will
include historical linguistic exercises and a book review. The course
grade will be determined primarily by the final exam, taking into
account written work and in-class participation.