Historical Linguistics
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with notions of historical linguistics more advanced than those acquired during the Comparative Philology course of the three-year degree.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will have broadened his knowledge of the aspects of linguistic variation; he will also have a knowledge of the most up-to-date bibliographic tools and repertoires useful for the investigation of Indo-European languages; moreover, he will have become familiar with the main interpretative models typical of historical linguistics. As for the methodological aspects, the student will be able to interpret the linguistic data in a diachronic perspective and to correctly conduct the etymological analysis in its various articulations; finally, he will be able to use the relevant bibliographic tools and etymological repertoires, to critically evaluate their contribution and assess their reliability.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
The course will take place in remote mode, mainly in asynchronous form, by publishing PPT audiotexts on the Ariel website of the course. Meetings are also planned with the students on the platforms Zoom/Microsoft Teams. Students will find on the Ariel website all the information concerning the course, the timetable of the meetings, and the teaching material.
Course syllabus
In the first part of the course some aspects of the linguistic variation in ancient Indo-European languages will be studied in depth, with particular reference to Greek and Latin. Subsequently, general aspects of linguistic change will be taken into account.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is intended for students who have already taken an exam in Comparative Philology.
Teaching methods
The teaching is is offered in a lecture format. Lectures are designed for the students to acquire the knowledge which is the subject of the discipline. Characteristic phenomena of linguistic variation will be investigated through the reading and linguistic analysis of texts of ancient Indo-European languages, in particular Greek and Latin.
Teaching Resources
C.A. CIANCAGLINI - A. KEIDAN, Linguistica generale e storica. Per studenti di lingue orientali e classiche. Volume II, Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2018.
E. MAGNI, Linguistica storica, Bologna, Pàtron, 2014, or: J. BYBEE, Language Change, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
E. MAGNI, Linguistica storica, Bologna, Pàtron, 2014, or: J. BYBEE, Language Change, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral test: The oral test consists of an interview on the topics indicated in the programme, aimed at ascertaining students' knowledge of the topics dealt with in the individual teaching units and the contents of the reference texts indicated in the programme. In addition to in-depth knowledge of the contents proposed, the students must demonstrate that they are able to apply the knowledge acquired in order to analyse and interpret the linguistic facts submitted to them in an appropriate manner.
The clarity and punctuality of the answers and the precise and correct use of the specialist vocabulary of the discipline will also contribute to the final evaluation.
Marks are out of 30.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
The clarity and punctuality of the answers and the precise and correct use of the specialist vocabulary of the discipline will also contribute to the final evaluation.
Marks are out of 30.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours