Introduction to Germanic Philology (2019/2020)

Learning outcomes

The course is an Introduction to Germanic Philology; it aims at transmitting basic information on the multi-disciplinary topics of Germanic Philology, which encompass codicology and the history of books, paleography, textual criticism (including basic knowledge on digital editing of texts and manuscripts), and furthermore information on the cultural history of Germanic peoples and on historical-linguistic features of Germanic languages.
Expected Outcomes
- Basic knowledge of methods and cultural contents related to the literary traditions of Germanic languages
- High level proficiency in the specialistic vocabulary related to every field of Germanic Philology
- Basic knowledge of the different specialistic fields of Germanic philology, mainly focussing on the history of books in the Germanic Middle Ages (also treated with computer-assisted methods and procedures), in compliance with the general learning outcomes of the Bachelor Degree in Languages and Cultures for Publishing

In summary, the programme will develop as follows: 


1st part (= 5 weeks = 20 hours)
Historical linguistics (Germanic isoglosses); Germanic antiquities; vernacular manuscript traditions in Germanic language speaking areas: literary genres.

2nd part (= 4 weeks, = 16 hours)
Introduction to Old Norse literature and manuscript culture; A Snorri's Edda Bibliography

Teaching

Teaching modalities are different for attendees and non-attendees.
Only for attendees: ongoing self-evaluation test (this will be scheduled during the course).

Throughout the entire academic year, the instructor is available weekly during her visiting hours (schedule available on this webpage and can be subject to variations), generally with no need to arrange an appointment, unless there are specific announcements on the personal page.

At the beginning of the course attendees will receive a complete schedule of the teaching activities (including class dates and place). Possible postponements of the classes will be announced via the e-learning platform.
Non-attendees are kindly requested to contact the instructor. Possible updates will be made available in good time also by means of dedicated posts on the e-learning platform (so everybody is supposed to subscribe to it).

Content of textbooks, as well as of classes and exercise held during the course comply with the programme. Further materials is available on the e-learning.

SUGGESTED READING

S. Leonardi, E. Morlicchio, La filologia germanica e le lingue moderne, Bologna 2009 (historical linguistics and Germanic antiquities): chapters 1 ('Germani, germanico e filologia': pp. 19-37), 2 ('Le lingue germaniche nel passato': pp. 39-53, 54-61, 62-73, 75-85), 3 ('Dal germanico alle lingue germaniche': pp. 87-102), 4 ('Le lingue germaniche: tratti distintivi': pp. 133-146), 5 ('Lessicoe contatti linguistici': pp. 173-202, 204-218), 7 ('La tradizione germanica': pp. 235-245, 247-260), 8 ('Incontri linguistici nel Medioevo': pp. 261-291).

M. Cursi, Le forme del libro : dalla tavoletta all’e-book, Roma 2016 (book history)


C. De Hamel, Storia di dodici manoscritti, Mondadori 2017 (paleography, codicology, textual criticism)

O.E.Haugen et al., Le lingue nordiche del Medioevo

Snorri Sturluson, Edda, a c. di G. Chiesa Isnardi

Further bibliographical references will be indicated during the course and will be added to this page later on.

Oral exams during the official exam sessions scheduled and published by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Assessment will include: ATTENDEES--> ongoing evaluation test referring to the 1st part of the programme + oral exams on the other part of the programme NON-ATTEDEES--> oral exam on the whole programme Assessment In the middle of the course (after the 5th week), students can take written test (preceded by a mock-test which will be corrected and discussed within the class with self-evaluation), aimed at evaluating the introductory parts of the programme (it will deal with the first 5 weeks of classess) and the corresponding bibliography. The oral exam will regard themes both related to the written test and on the 2nd part of the programme. Moreover, the oral exam will assess: - depth and extent of acquired knowledge - accuracy of acquired vocabulary - ability to link aspects concerning both parts of the programme The intermediate written exam will be structured according to groups of questions related to the main themes of the course (1st part), with the support of learning materials which will be prepared ad hoc. The evaluation is expressed in 30/30. The written exam will be subject to an evaluation which the student will integrate with the oral exam. To foster the correct understanding of the contents and of the modalities of the pre-assessment written test during the classes the test of last year will be discussed (it is already available on the e-learning). The oral exam will be on the entire programme. The final evaluation is expressed in 30/30. Erasmus students are kindly requested to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to arrange both learning and assessment modalities.