Learning objectives
The course aims to provide fundamental knowledge of Germanic linguistics, of the issues related to the transmission of medieval texts in Germanic languages, and of the culture of Germanic populations - particularly English and German - in the Early Middle Ages.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
a) Recognize the phonetic evolution of Indo-European forms in Germanic and of Germanic forms in Old English and Old High German.
b) Situate some Old English and Old German texts in their production and reception context.
c) Identify the main stylistic and cultural characteristics of such texts.
d) Discuss the interpretation of such texts.
Prerequisites
The knowledge of basic principles of General Linguistics is required, especially concerning phonetics and phonology. It is particularly beneficial, though not mandatory, to have a basic understanding of the historical evolution since the Fall of the Roman Empire up to the Late Middle Ages and fundamental notions of European geography.
Course unit content
During the course, the following topics will be presented and discussed:
a) Introduction to Germanic Philology: matter and methods;
b) Germanic linguistics: changes in the transition from Indo-European to Germanic;
c) Distinctive features of Germanic languages in the Early Middle Ages, particularly Old English and Old High German;
d) Historical and cultural developments in England and the German-speaking regions in the Early Middle Ages;
e) Selection of texts from English and German literature in the Early Middle Ages (excerpts from 'Beowulf', 'Battle of Brunanburh', 'Hildebrandslied', 'Ludwigslied'), contextualized and commented on from a philological, linguistic, and literary perspective.
Full programme
The extended, detailed syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Bibliography
Alessandro Zironi, 'Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi', Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022.
Further materials will be made available on Elly during the course.
Teaching methods
The course will be structured as follows:
a) Lectures, where students will be constantly encouraged to participate in the discussion;
b) Exercises to assess understanding of the content;
c) Reading and commentary on texts.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam will be oral, and the topics will include:
- The linguistic features that define the Germanic languages, to be identified through specific cases discussed in class.
- The culture and history of Germanic populations in Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages, with special care for the texts discussed during the course.
A fail is attributed to an oral examination revealing: a serious lack of knowledge in relation to the contents of the course (e.g. ignorance of the linguistic contents of the course and deficient understanding of the historical-cultural contents, and vice versa); the inability on the part of the student to express himself/herself adequately in Italian. Deemed sufficient (18-23 / 30) is an examination in which the student shows to have learned the minimum and essential contents of the course, an ability to express himself/herself in an Italian appropriate to the topic presented. The student gets an average rating (24-27 / 30) if he/she proves to have more than a sufficient level (24-25/30) or a good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators listed above. He/she is awarded a very good or excellent score (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) if he/she fully meets the requirements expressed by the indicators listed above.
Other information
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