OVERVIEW

History of Greek Language aims to provide a comprehensive presentation of the evolution of ancient Greek, from the archaic age to the imperial one, paying particular attention to the different dialects.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

In the course of History of Greek Language, students will become familiar with the different dialects and the evolution of ancient Greek from the archaic age to the imperial one. This will be possible mainly by reading, translating and analysing texts from different ages.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Studying the history of Greek language students will become aware of the historical process that brought to the formation of the many ancient Greek dialects of the archaic and classical period, along with the different levels of common Greek. Besides, they will become able to appreciate the difference between non-literary and literary languages, the latter being artistic languages (“Kunstprachen”).

PREREQUISITES

Good knowledge of ancient Greek. Basic knowledge of ancient Greek literature and history.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Writing systems of ancient Greek. Elements of Greek phonology in its evolution from Indo-European phonology. The relationships between II-millennium Greek and I-millennium Greek. Archaic and classical dialects (classification problems and main features). Homeric language. The κοινή and its levels. In class we will read literary and non-literary texts belonging to different dialects and to different periods of ancient greek language.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Besides knowing the notions explained in class and the texts read during the lessons, students are demanded:

a) to read A.C. Cassio, Introduzione generale, da A.C. Cassio, Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2016 (second edition), pp. 3-133 (those who have not a sufficient knowledge of Italian are prayed to contact the teacher in order to agree a different bibliography).

b) to read in Greek the following works (students who can read Italian will find the suggested editions in the program in Italian; students who cannot read Italian could use the volumes of the “Loeb Classical Library”):

1. Pindar, Pythian Ode I.
2. Aristophanes, Acharnians, vv. 1-835.
3. Polybius, Histories, book I, §§ 1-64.
4. Plutarchus, Life of Brutus.

General bibliography (note that students have NOT to study the following works for the exam):

• A. Meillet, Lineamenti di storia della lingua greca, Torino 1976 (ed. or. Paris 1935).
• M. Morani, Introduzione alla linguistica greca, Alessandria 1999.
• A.C. Cassio, Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2015 (2008).

Students should preferably attend the lessons.

Readings for those who couldn't attend the lessons (those who have not a sufficient knowledge of Italian to read the works at points A and B are prayed to contact the teacher in order to agree a different bibliography):

A) A.C. Cassio, Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Firenze 2016 (second edition): pp. 3-133; pp. 139-181; pp. 188-190; pp. 225-226; pp. 253-254; pp. 385-409; pp. 416-417.

B) M. Morani, Introduzione alla linguistica greca, Alessandria 1999: pp. 63-115.

C) Read in Greek the following works (students who cannot read Italian could use the volumes of the “Loeb Classical Library”):

1. Homer, Iliad, book XXII, vv. 1-366.
2. Pindar, Pythian Ode I.
3. Aristophanes, Acharnians, vv. 1-835.
4. Polybius, Histories, book I, §§ 1-64.
5. Gospel of Mark, §§ 11-15 (whatever edition provided with Greek text).
6. Plutarchus, Life of Brutus.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANDREA BEGHINI (President)

VALTER LAPINI

MARTINA BIAMINO (Substitute)

MATTEO MACCIO' (Substitute)

ROSA RONZITTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons start: Wednesday 21 February 2024

Class schedule

HISTORY OF GREEK LANGUAGE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

Students will be examed on two of the texts read in class and on two passages of two of the texts indicated in the bibliography.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Agreeing with the aims and learning outcomes of the lessons, students will be demanded to introduce, translate and comment from a historico-linguistic point of view each of these four texts. Besides, they should demostrate to be able to applicate autonomously the notions learned in class.Theorical knowledge and reading skill of the dactylic hexameter is mandatory.

Exam schedule