Latin Language
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at developing and strengthening the students' linguistic education, focusing not only on Latin in itself, but also on Latin as the source of romance languages. The aim is pursued through the critical analysis of original Latin texts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Through close reading of prose Latin texts, students, being lead by the teacher, get acquainted with some general categories of linguistic analysis; a special focus is on Latin lexicon as a source for Italian words.
Skills: The students are able to grasp the linguistic and stylistic features of texts as relating to different times and genres; moreover, they possess a method enabling them to understand any prose text, however difficult it may be.
Skills: The students are able to grasp the linguistic and stylistic features of texts as relating to different times and genres; moreover, they possess a method enabling them to understand any prose text, however difficult it may be.
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
During classes (40 hours = 6 ECTS), diachronic series of Latin prose texts is examined, from archaic to late Latin . Besides reading the texts, the teacher deals with some key-topics concerning the Latin language, with a peculiar focus on the reasons clarifying rules and tendencies. During the classes the following topics are dwelled upon: Latin as a Korpus-Sprache; noun inflection and word order; word formation; verbal aspect; indicative vs. subjunctive mood; parataxis vs. hypotaxis, and the structure of complex sentences; Indoeuropean apophony vs. Latin apophony.
Students who cannot attend classes must contact the teacher in order to agree on some further readings to be done.
Students who cannot attend classes must contact the teacher in order to agree on some further readings to be done.
Prerequisites for admission
A good knowledge of Latin literature in its chronological development, and of Latin lexicon, morphology, syntax is required. Moreover, it is compulsory to have passed the written test preliminary to the exam of Latin literature (BA).
Teaching methods
The focal point of the teaching method are: 1) on behalf of the teacher, texts' presentation (through loud reading, translation, linguistic analysis); 2) on behalf of the students, an active cooperation is stimulated unceasingly, so that they will be in a position to infer grammar rules from the very texts and to account for some elements and features (such as phonetic and morphological variation, predominance of hypotaxis vs. parataxis, and so on), recognizing their link with diachrony and diastraty.
Teaching Resources
1) study of A. Traina - G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna, Patron, 1998, study of chapters 1-6;
2) translation from Latin of Cicero, Tusculanae disputationes, book II, or Sallust, Bellum Catilinae.
2) translation from Latin of Cicero, Tusculanae disputationes, book II, or Sallust, Bellum Catilinae.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examination, top grade 30/30 'e lode' (sufficiency: 18/30). It focuses on texts (either examined by teacher or studied by the students), and aims to verify: 1) the knowledge of general categories of linguistic analysis; 2) the students' ability both to examine and to compare different texts.
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.
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.
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/04 - LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/04 - LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Students' reception hours: On Thurdays, in the morning. Students should email prof. Moretti in advance, to make an appointment.
via Festa del Perdono, at the Sezione di Filologia classica of the Dipartimento di Studi letterari ('cortile legnaia').