OVERVIEW

The course is dedicated to classical students and focuses on linguistic reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European and prehistory of Classical Languages.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will need to learn the fundamentals of historical linguistics, including Indo-European glottology and the comparative-reconstructive method, which was developed in Germany in the second half of the nineteenth century. Starting with a basic comparison of Greek, Latin, Germanic languages, and Sanskrit, they will be able to understand the main phonetic laws and reconstruct the protoforms of the basic Indo-European lexicon. According to the parameters established by twentieth-century sociolinguistic research, they will identify the main causes of linguistic change. They will be able to make phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and lexical comments on texts written in ancient Indo-European languages. They'll have to learn and master the Italian language's phonetic transcription.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course enables students:

to master the comparative-reconstructive method and to evaluate the history of classical languages as an evolution along thousand-year genetic axes of a proto-language called Indo-European, recognisable in its historical forms in a dozen linguistic branches and in a comparison among Latin, Greek, Sanskrit (Vedic) and Gothic.

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of Italian, Greek and Latin.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, distribution of all materials at lectures in class and via Aulaweb, phonetical exercises, dictation in Ancient Greek.

Class will be held face-to-face.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Programme for students taking the course for 6 cfu

Linguistics and glottology. Fundamentals of the discipline. Synchronic and diachronic study of languages, phonetics and phonology, morphology, variability of languages, classification of languages: genealogical affinities and relations among languages.

Programme for students taking the course for 9 cfu

Linguistics and glottology. Fundamentals of the discipline. Synchronic and diachronic study of languages, phonetics and phonology, morphology, variability of languages, classification of languages: genealogical affinities and relations among languages.

Reconstruction of Indo-European. The phonological system of Indo-European reconstructed. Elements of Indo-European morphology and syntax. Reading of texts with glottological comment.

Programme for students taking the course for 12 cfu

Linguistics and glottology. Fundamentals of the discipline. Synchronic and diachronic study of languages, phonetics and phonology, morphology, variability of languages, classification of languages: genealogical affinities and relations among languages.

Reconstruction of Indo-European. The phonological system of Indo-European reconstructed. Elements of Indo-European morphology and syntax. Reading of texts with glottological comment from more languages.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

See the Italian part.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ROSA RONZITTI (President)

GUIDO GIOVANNI BORGHI

RITA CAPRINI (Substitute)

IRENE DE FELICE (Substitute)

MATTEO MACCIÒ (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st October 2024

-- February 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

In is possible to give the exam in two separate parts.

Phonetical transcription.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment method consists an oral test that examines the entire programme undertaken at lectures for students of Classical languages.

The reconstructions must be written. The Greek transcriptions must be correct in every part.

For everyone: phonetical transcription.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who do not attend are urged to contact teaching staff at least a month before taking the exam.