Course teached as: B004864 - FILOLOGIA GERMANICA 3-years First Cycle Degree (DM 270/04) in LANGUAGES, LITERATURES AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES Curriculum STUDI LINGUISTICI, LETTERARI E INTERCULTURALI
Teaching Language
Italian
Course Content
The course focuses on the foundations of Germanic philology, in particular on linguistic genealogy and on textual typology and transmission of Germanic medieval texts. In order to develop the student's critical abilities, the course will introduce the main tools of ecdotic analysis, of historical-comparative linguistics besides most relevant issues related to textual production. In parallel an optional course of Norwegian and Swedish will take place.
Text book: Molinari, Maria Vittoria. 1981 (o edizioni successive). La Filologia Germanica. Bologna. Zanichelli.
Readings (any edition) : Snorri's Edda (Prologue e Gylfaginning), Poetic Edda (Vǫluspá), Beowulf (vv. 1-1739), Hildebrandslied, Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks saga rauða).
Materials commented during the course are part of the bibliography and are available for students on Moodle website where students will also find the links relative to the above mentioned readings
Learning Objectives
The course (36 hours) will focus on the fundamental concepts and notions related to Germanic Philology . Aims of the course:
a. to introduce students to different medieval Germanic literary genres and to diachronic comparative linguistics;
b. to familiarize students with the critical instruments in the field of diachronic comparative linguistics, history, formal and stylistic analysis, required for the analysis of medieval literary texts;
c. to enable students to develop a critical consciousness through the analysis and comment of some of the most representative texts of Old and Medieval Germanic literatures.
1. Knowledge and understanding: Students will demonstrate knowledge in the fundamental notions of diachronic-comparative linguistics related to Germanic languages and of ecdotics and critical understanding in medieval Germanic literary tradition analysed during the course and in individual study, and will acquire the critical tools to cope with the historical, literary and socio-cultural context of the Old and Medieval Germanic world.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will learn how to apply processes, models, questions, and theories that result in enhanced clarity in the philological analysis and comprehension of literary texts included in the program.
3. Making judgements: Students will develop the ability to discuss the comparative linguistic and literary questions considered during the course, proposing critical perspectives and well-grounded judgements on the texts included in the program.
4. Communication skills: Students will develop the ability to can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, with particular reference to themes and questions considered during the lessons.
5. Learning skills: Students will acquire the methodological tools required for philological studies.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites are those outlined the course of study
Teaching Methods
Lectures will be provided with exercises on the moodle website and seminars in which students are required to actively participate
Further information
The course takes place in the first semester.
Further information will be given at the beginning of the course
Type of Assessment
The exam will be oral and / or written. The written test is compulsory and consists of 25 questions which will address the following parts of the program:
1. The reconstruction of the Germanic family and the Proto-Germanic: linguistic, historical and archaeological questions.
2. The first writing systems: runes, the gothic alphabet and the penetration of the Latin Christian writing practices.
3. Old Germanic peoples: history and literature, with attention to the readings indicated in the program.
These three sections may possibly be verified with (one or more) articulated questions, which cover all areas. Successful candidates will be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge in all of the above points (1,2,3).
During the oral exam, students will be asked to analyze the topics chosen by the student from a list of options available on Moodle website and demonstrate that they can discuss the subjects treated during the course, make appropriate connections and express themselves clearly. It will be possible to replace the individual study of one of the ancient and medieval Germanic literatures with a Norwegian-language course.
The final evaluation in based on the result of the written test and possibly of either the oral part or the Norwegen language course.
The exam aims to assess:
- The knowledge of key concepts in Germanic Philology.
- The ability to describe linguistic phenomena and place literary texts within their historical and cultural context of production and reception;
- The ability of close reading of all the texts included in the reading list and in the bibliography for the individual study and of command of methodological and theoretical tools;
- The ability to use formal and critical terminology;
- Activities and tests on e-learning Platform moodle.
Students will demonstrate that they can discuss the subjects treated during the course and in their individual study, make appropriate connections between different Old Germanic languages, and express themselves clearly.
Grades are given on the basis of 30 points. Points are awarded if students are able to:
1) know the fundamental concepts and notion of Germanic Philology,
2) describe the linguistic phenomena concerning Proto-Germanic and the Old Germanic languages and understand and critically comment the readings suggested within their historical and cultural contexts,
3) elaborate personal judgements that are solidly grounded on the texts and secondary literature, indicated for the course and the individual study.
4) use appropriate terms.
Nos. 1 and 4 are essential in order to obtain the minimum passing grade (18/30); higher evaluations depend on to what extent’ students have developed their skills in all four points listed above.
Course program
The course is divided into two parts. In the first part we will discuss the concept of "Germanic", by means of defining the Germanic family on the basis of the genealogical relations between the Germanic languages: we will identify the conservative and innovative traits with respect to the Indo-European, and will confront with archaeological and phylogenetic studies. Consequently, principles of historical-comparative linguistics and their applications will be explained. Particular attention will be given to phenomena still found in current Germanic languages such as strong verbs and morphophonemic alternations. In the second part, the historical phases of the Germanic languages will be analyzed: the history of the various Germanic peoples through indirect sources in Latin and direct sourses in Germanic vernaculars; the written attestations and the writing systems, with particular attention given to the runes and the Gothic alphabet; the role of the spread of Christianity; the comment of some fundamental texts of the Old and Medieval Germanic literatures collocated in their historical-cultural contexts, also in relation to the other Germanic traditions. The issue of text transmission, textual criticism and text reconstruction will be introduced, in order to make students familiar with the main tools of ecdotic analysis. The issue of Germanisms in Italian, due to the domination of the Goths and Longobards, will be dealt with marginally. All the topics dealt with summarily in the course may be the subject of individual study for the oral test. The course will run parallel to a Norwegian language course as an alternative to the individual study for the oral part of the exam.