The purpose of this course is to read selected Old English and Old High German texts. The course is divided into three parts. The first part is an introduction to the basic principles of historical linguistics which all students (both English and German) must attend. The second part, which is mandatory only for students of English, is dedicated to the syncronic study of Old English, to Anglo-Saxon culture, and to the chosen texts. The third part, which is mandatory only for students of German, concerns the same topics from Old High German.

1. Principles of historical lingistics: how and why languages change (various methods of investigating linguistic change and the theories that explain it). The evolution from Protogermanic to Old English and Old High German. FOR ALL STUDENTS
2. Reading Old English Texts: What is ‘Old English’? - What do Anglo-Saxon Studies investigate? – An outline of Anglo-Saxon History – Anglo-Saxon culture – Old English language: a syncronic survey – readings from selected texts of prose and poetry FOR ENGLISH STUDENTS
3. Althochdeutsche Texte lesen: Was bedeutet ‘Althochdeutsch’? – Ein Überblick über die Erkenntnisziele der deutschen Mediävistik - Kultur der althochdeutschen Zeit - Althochdeutsch synchron betrachtet - Lektüren aus ausgewählten althochdeutschen Dichtungs- und Prosatexten FÜR GERMANISTEN

Modalità didattiche

Seminars with exercises (30 hours distributed in the span of two modules: three hours a week). The “frequentanti” students will be divided into two groups according to one’s main language. The English students must attend part one and part two of the program, while German students must attend part one and part three. The seminars require active participation; additionally, there will be exercises to be done at home and in the classroom, one written test a month, and one oral presentation (in English or in German) from a selected topic. At the end of the term, there will be an oral exam.

Obblighi

You MUST do your exercises at home as well as in the classroom, otherwise you will not be admitted to the final oral exam.

Testi di studio

- Campbell, L. Historical Linguistics: An Introduction. 2 ed. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004 (for all students)
- O’ Brien o’ Keeffe, Katherine (ed.), Reading Old English Texts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 (for Engish students)
- Bein, Thomas, Germanistiche Mediävistik. Eine Einführung. Berlin: Erich Schmidt, 1998 (für die Germanisten)

Please buy the books before the beginning of the course

Modalità di
accertamento

One written test a month, one oral presentation from a selected topic, and a final oral exam.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Modalità didattiche

 please contact the teacher before the end of the course

Obblighi

please contact the teacher before the end of the course

Testi di studio

please contact the teacher before the end of the course

Modalità di
accertamento

a written paper on a topic previously agreed with the teacher TO BE SENT TO THE TEACHER BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM; and of couse the final exama written paper on a topic previously agreed with the teacher TO BE SENT TO THE TEACHER BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM; and of couse the final exam

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.