Orrin "Rob" Robinson
Contact:
Building 260, Room 251
Phone: 650 723 0413
Fax: 650 725 8421
owr@stanford.edu
Office Hours:
T / Th 2:30 - 4:00 PMOVERVIEW:
I returned to the Farm after getting my Ph.D. in 1972 and teaching in the Berkeley German department for a year. I have conducted research in a number of different areas in general and also in Germanic linguistics, with works on theoretical phonology (the formal structure of sound systems), the history and dialectology of various of the Germanic languages, and Old High German syntax. In addition, more recent interests include the question of exactly what data count as data when one is describing the language known as Modern "Standard" German, and, farther afield, those linguistic aspects of the Grimms' fairy tales which aided in the establishment of what was arguably a new genre. Among my publications are the books Old English and Its Closest Relatives (Stanford University Press, 1992), Clause Subordination and Verb Placement in the Old High German Isidor Translation (C. Winter,1997), Whose German?: The ach/ich alternation and related phenomena in standard and colloquial (Benjamins, 2001) and Grimm Language: Grammar, Gender and Genuineness in the Fairy Tales (Benjamins, 2010).
EDUCATION:
1972 Ph.D. (Linguistics) from Cornell University
1968 B.A. from Stanford University
Courses
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GERLIT123NAut2011-12
Historical, biographical, linguistic, and literary look at the Kinder- and Hausmarchen of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Readings from the fairy tales, plus materials in other media such as film and the visual arts. Four short essays, one or two oral reports. In German.
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GERLIT118/218Spr2011-12
A comparative survey of the seven oldest Germanic languages (Gothic, Old Norse, Old Saxon, Old English, Old Frisian, Old Low Franconian, Old High German). Lectures on comparative linguistics, runology, old Germanic poetry, historical syntax and more.
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GERLIT258Win2011-12
A survey of major dialects of the German speaking areas. Lectures on comparative linguistics, the history and nature of German dialect geography, sociolinguistic approaches. Prerequisite: GERLANG 3 or equivalent.
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GERLIT258Win2010-11
Linguistic characteristics of dialect areas. History of the study of language variation in Germany; traditional dialect grammars; dialect-geographical revolution; and insights of modern sociolinguistics. Sources include native speakers professionallymade tapes with transcripts and secondary readings.
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GERLIT123NSpr2010-11
Preference to freshmen. Historical, biographical, linguistic, and literary look at the Kinder- and Hausmärchen of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Readings from the fairy tales plus materials in other media such as film and the visual arts. Four required papers (revised - in German) plus brief oral reports (also in German) and classroom discussion in German. Prerequisite: GERLANG 3 or equivalent.
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GERLIT258Win2010-11
Linguistic characteristics of dialect areas. History of the study of language variation in Germany; traditional dialect grammars; dialect-geographical revolution; and insights of modern sociolinguistics. Sources include native speakers professionallymade tapes with transcripts and secondary readings.
