This exploration of the English language continues to evolve and encompasses anthropology, genetics, history, language, literature and social history. Alongside a broadly chronological account beginning with prehistory and continuing to the twenty-first century are diversions into the development of specific words, the significance of place names, personal names and surnames, punctuation, regional dialects, acquisitions from modern languages and the global significance of English. At the centre of the labyrinth are the ancestral languages identified in the eighteenth century, particularly our own Proto-Indo-European. Routes from there take in Celtic variants, forms of Latin, Germanic tribal dialects, Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse and Norman-French. Members will be set oral and written tasks and will be expected to read scripts in class (you are excused if you have difficulty with this). General knowledge of English history and literature is required. Some handouts are sent in advance; ideally you should be able to print these.