Germanic Philology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing the historical-comparative study of the old Germanic languages and of the cultural and textual production of the Germanic peoples. It pays particular attention to the phonological development from Indo-European to Proto-Germanic and to the medieval Germanic languages through the reading of their written sources.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the fundamental questions about the linguistic, textual and historical-cultural shaping of the medieval Germanic world, analyzed from a comparative perspective; knowledge of the linguistic phenomena which led to the birth and development of the old Germanic languages, particularly from the phonological and morphological viewpoint. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read, translate, and analyze texts written in the principal Old Germanic languages from the grammatical and semantic point of view and within their historical and cultural background.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is called "The tradition of ancient Germanic spells" and consists of the following three parts, which will be addressed in parallel:
A: An overview of Germanic culture;
B: Historical-comparative linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages;
C: The Old High and Low German, Old English, Runic and Old Icelandic tradition of spells.
For the students of the Course of Studies C23, the course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6 ECTS. Students of other CdS who intend to acquire 6/9 ECTS have to agree to the programme with the professor.
Part A will study the history and culture of ancient Germanic peoples: paganism, Christianisation and the subsequent spread of book culture in north-central Europe, from late antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages. Part B will deal with the phonological phenomena that led to the birth and differentiation of the Germanic languages; the oldest stage will be analysed both from a phonological and morphological point of view. Part C will present the tradition of spells with curative and magical functions from the High and Low German, Old English and Scandinavian areas, including the Merseburger Zaubersprüche, metrical charms and runic formulas, which will be read, translated and analysed from a linguistic-historical and lexical point of view.
The course programme is valid until February 2025. Starting from the Summer session of 2024, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2024/25.
A: An overview of Germanic culture;
B: Historical-comparative linguistics of the ancient Germanic languages;
C: The Old High and Low German, Old English, Runic and Old Icelandic tradition of spells.
For the students of the Course of Studies C23, the course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6 ECTS. Students of other CdS who intend to acquire 6/9 ECTS have to agree to the programme with the professor.
Part A will study the history and culture of ancient Germanic peoples: paganism, Christianisation and the subsequent spread of book culture in north-central Europe, from late antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages. Part B will deal with the phonological phenomena that led to the birth and differentiation of the Germanic languages; the oldest stage will be analysed both from a phonological and morphological point of view. Part C will present the tradition of spells with curative and magical functions from the High and Low German, Old English and Scandinavian areas, including the Merseburger Zaubersprüche, metrical charms and runic formulas, which will be read, translated and analysed from a linguistic-historical and lexical point of view.
The course programme is valid until February 2025. Starting from the Summer session of 2024, it will be possible to apply for the exam exclusively on the programme of the academic year 2024/25.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is entirely in Italian, the materials, and the examination bibliography all require good technical and linguistic skills; to take the exam in German Philology, you must have already taken and passed the exam in Glottology.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading and linguistic-philological commentary of passages from the texts in the programme.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the online teaching platform Ariel (https://edivenosafg.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx), to which reference should be made for lesson notes and other materials provided by the professor.
The following are the mandatory readings for the three parts of the course:
Part A:
- Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi. Le Monnier Università 2021 (chapters 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6).
- Tacito, "La Germania" (an edition of your choice in Italian translation);
- Gianna Chiesa Isnardi, "I miti nordici", Longanesi 1997 (paragraphs of your choice for a total of about one hundred pages).
Part B:
- Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi. Le Monnier Università 2021 (chapter 2).
- Lesson notes complementing the textbook.
Part C:
-Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in Ariel at the end of the course);
-Anthology of the texts (available in Ariel).
The examination programme for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is identical to the programme for attending students.
The following are the mandatory readings for the three parts of the course:
Part A:
- Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi. Le Monnier Università 2021 (chapters 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6).
- Tacito, "La Germania" (an edition of your choice in Italian translation);
- Gianna Chiesa Isnardi, "I miti nordici", Longanesi 1997 (paragraphs of your choice for a total of about one hundred pages).
Part B:
- Alessandro Zironi, Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi. Le Monnier Università 2021 (chapter 2).
- Lesson notes complementing the textbook.
Part C:
-Lesson notes (they will be gathered in a booklet, available in Ariel at the end of the course);
-Anthology of the texts (available in Ariel).
The examination programme for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is identical to the programme for attending students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is held in Italian; it consists of an individual interview, which includes questions posed by the professor and interactions between professor and student; and the duration varies depending on the didactic parts prepared: the interview begins with questions on part A and continues with the discussion on part C, during which the student must be able to analyse the texts in the programme both from the historical-cultural point of view and phonologically, applying the linguistic phenomena studied in part B, with particular attention to the terms commented during the course.
During the exam, you will be tested:
-level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of parts A and C;
-level of autonomy in recognising and analysing the linguistic phenomena studied in parts B and C;
-adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and competences acquired in the three parts.
The final grade is expressed in 30ths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
During the exam, you will be tested:
-level of knowledge and understanding of the topics of parts A and C;
-level of autonomy in recognising and analysing the linguistic phenomena studied in parts B and C;
-adequacy of language in expressing and applying the knowledge and competences acquired in the three parts.
The final grade is expressed in 30ths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/15 - GERMANIC PHILOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment always; pending a new office, during the semester outside the classroom at the end of class.