This course provides an introduction to the Old Icelandic language, providing the foundation necessary for students at Masters level to engage with the literature of this culture in its original form.

1x1hour seminar; 1x1hour tutorial (smaller groups) per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This course may be taught in conjunction with ENGLANG4047, as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the MSc options for English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

ENGLANG4047

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Examination (90 minutes) - 50%

■ Class test (50 minutes) - 25%

■ Portfolio of online tests - 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the examination or class test, but extra time and/or a separate room may be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for examination arrangements).

■ There is no alternative to the portfolio of online tests, but flexible deadlines may be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extension arrangements).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ develop a reading knowledge of Old Icelandic prose;

■ build a vocabulary (passive and active) of the most frequently occurring words in Old Icelandic prose;

■ develop specialist skills in analysing and explaining the structure and grammar of Old Icelandic prose.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ translate an unseen prose passage from Old Icelandic accurately into appropriate present-day English;

■ supply the meaning of common Old Icelandic words (provided as citation forms, and not in the context of a text)

■ identify and comment on grammatical constructions in an Old Icelandic text;

■ apply grammatical knowledge in class exercises, exams and assessments including translation from English into Old Icelandic of simple sentences;

■ explain and apply the effect of basic sound changes relevant to understanding and accounting for apparent irregularities in inflexion.