How did a simple language of unsophisticated people with fewer than 40,000 words become the dominant language today with the largest vocabulary? We will explore the evolution of English and the history of word formation (etymology), then delve into the growth of the American English dialect. Additionally, we will consider an array of fun facts about English (such as why I said "fewer" above instead of "less") without losing sight of our three main goals. This course is presented by The University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of the OLLI Alabama Shares program.

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Course Pre-Requisites
(required) Fall 2026 Course Package

This course contains no sessions.
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