15-PROSEM-IV-1-2BA-11
15-PROSEM-IV-2-2BA-11
Language is a funny thing — some of the most common, colourful, and
dynamic words in it have always been strangely absent from public
discourse, dictionaries, and general awareness. Were Anglo-Saxons really
so noble as to launch into a long poem full of kennings when seeing a
monster tearing their compatriots to little pieces? And what about the
Bard? Would Hamlet react to his father's ghost with "Angels and
ministers of grace defend us!", or would he choose something pithier?
That is the question, therein lies the rub.
The aim of this proseminar is to take you on a journey through the
history of the English language as it developed many ingenious ways of
cursing and swearing. In that we will interact with original (though
modernised) texts, always trying to figure out what specific cases of
expressive languages tell us about the society which used, misused,
abused, and banned them.
- Teacher: Marcin Krygier