The purpose of this course is to read selected Old English texts. The course is divided into three parts. The first part is an introduction to the basic principles of historical linguistics. The second part is dedicated to the syncronic study of Old English, to Anglo-Saxon culture, and to the chosen texts. The third part deals with the study of Old English texts in their manuscript contexts: we shall analyse a case study, the ms. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Junius 11.

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. 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. 3. The relationship between an Old English text and its manuscript context: a case study (ms. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Junius 11)

Modalità didattiche

Seminars with exercises (30 hours distributed in the span of two modules: three hours a week). 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 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)

- Information about the bibliography on the ms. Junius 11 shall be discussed with the students during the first seminars.

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 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.