THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH FROM ANGLO-SAXON THROUGH THE LANGUAGE OF CHAUCER TO THAT OF SHAKESPEARE IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS UNIT FOR 11TH- OR 12TH-GRADERS. THOSE HISTORICAL EVENTS AND CONDITIONS WHICH HAVE HAD A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE LANGUAGE OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE MAJOR INTERNAL CHANGES IN ENGLISH WHICH TOOK PLACE SLOWLY OVER A PERIOD OF CENTURIES. DEVELOPMENTS IN OLD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH SPELLING, PHONOLOGY, GRAMMAR, AND VOCABULARY ARE EXPLAINED. THE FINAL CHAPTER INTRODUCES THE METHODS OF COMPARATIVE PHILOLOGY WHICH MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIPS AND GENEOLOGIES OF LANGUAGES AND TO RECONSTRUCT LIKELY PRE-WRITTEN FORMS. THE STUDENT VERSION INCLUDES EXPLANATIONS OF MATERIAL, EXERCISES, AND STUDY AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. THE TEACHER VERSION PROVIDES BACKGROUND EXPLANATORY MATERIAL AND SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHING PROCEDURES AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING. SEE ALSO ED 010 129 THROUGH ED 010 160, ED 010 803 THROUGH ED 010 832, TE 000 195 THROUGH TE 000 220, AND TE 000 227 THROUGH TE 000 249. (DL)