Mirko Tavoni, Il Quattrocento, Bologna, il Mulino, 1996.
Essays and contributions provided in handouts.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge:
- through the analysis of extremely different texts by author and type, the course
intends to offer an overview of the changes occurred in the Florentine language during
the transition from the fourteenth to the fifteenth century, on a graphic, phonomorfological, syntactic and lexical level;
Competence:
- ability to use bibliographic sources and tools that allow the
in-depth study of late medieval and renaissance texts;
- ability to interpret textual and linguistic aspects differentiated from
a diastratic and diametric point of view within the same geographical and chronological context;
- ability to address the language of some authors through direct analysis
of the autographs;
- introduction to Leonardo da Vinci’s autograph codes.
Prerequisites
Good knowledge of Italian historical grammar.
Teaching Methods
Lessons.
Further information
Please note that compulsory attendance is required for 2/3 of the lessons.
Examination methods for non-attending students are not provided,
except for part-time students (who must inform the Professor at the
beginning of the course in order to agree on a specific program).
Type of Assessment
The exam will be oral, also for non-attending students or exchange
programs (Erasmus and others). The exam will consist of questions
concerning the individual parts of the course and the reference texts.
During the test the student will also be asked to analyze the texts
examined in class and made available through the material provided by
the Professor.
Course program
- General characteristics of the fifteenth century Florentine language
in its relationship with the "golden" Florentine
and with modern Italian language.
- The different components: handwriting, sounds, shapes,
lexicon, syntax and textuality.
- The historical dimension and the tools of research.
- The Florentine production and the texts representing
different textual genres and sociolinguistic levels.
- Analysis of mercantile texts (Alessandra Macinghi
Strozzi).
- Analysis of technical and craft related texts (Leonardo da
Vinci).
- Analysis of literary texts (Lorenzo de 'Medici).