URAL-ALTAIC PHILOLOGY

The course Ural-Altaic philology belongs to the BA program “Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean Africa” (Near and Middle East) and intend to provide students with linguistic and philological knowledge of Uralic and Altaic languages.

Objectives of the courses are: 1) to acquire knowledge of a) linguistic typology of the Uralic and Altaic (Turkic, Mongolic and Tungusic) languages 2) Areal phenomena in Eurasia and 3) Writing systems for Uralic and Altaic languages.

Students will acquire knowledge of the fundamental elements of Uralic and Altaic linguistics and philology.

Knowledge of an Altaic or Uralic language

During the lessons, the following topics will be discussed:

-Classification and periodization of the Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic and Uralic languages
-Genetic vs. typological relationship
-Writing systems in the Altaic and Uralic world

Besides the materials provided by the professor, the following books will be used (selected chapters):

Abondolo, D. (ed.) 1998. The Uralic languages. London & New York.
Janhunen, J. (ed.) 2003. The Mongolic languages. London & New York.
Janhunen, J. 2005. Tungusic. An endangered language family in Northeast Asia. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 173, 37–54.
Johanson, L. & Csató, É. Á. (eds.) The Turkic languages. London & New York.
Rachewiltz, de I. & Rybatzki, V. 2010. Introduction to Altaic philology (Handbook of Oriental Studies, Section 8, Central Asia, vol 20). Leiden & Boston.
Sinor, D. (ed.) 1988. The Uralic languages: description, history and foreign influences (Handbuch der Orientalistik 8/1). Leiden et al.

The oral exam will deal with the topics discussed during the course.

Frontal classes complemented by regular reading and translation sessions involving students’ active participation.

Italian

Students are strongly advised to attend classes regularly.

oral