GERMANIC PHILOLOGY

The module gives the students the opportunity to acquire knowledge about the origin of the languages and cultures that they have chosen as a major, especially from a historical viewpoint. Therefore, the module contributes in a large part to the development of all the aforementioned skills (e.g. language contact/interference; multilingualism; interlinguistic variation and universal language properties; analysis of texts belonging to early stages of the chosen languages), and specifically covers knowledge and understanding of the principles of language change and language variation.

Student Learning Objectives (SLO):

1. Knowledge and understanding.
1a. Students will know and understand, in a comparative perspective, the major features of linguistic change applied to the Germanic linguistic family, primarily with the aim of better understanding the modern languages;
1b. Students will know and understand the major literary and cultural manifestations of the Germanic medieval traditions, through the texts that have come down to us;
1c. Students will know and understand the mechanisms of textual production in the Middle Ages, as well as their dissemination through time and space.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding.
2a. Students will be able to recognize the major triggers of linguistic change, manipulate linguistic forms, derive forms from protolanguages, and account for their development.
2b. Students will be able to apply the research methods acquired in the course to selected texts of the Germanic traditions.
2c. Students will be able to master the appropriate philological terminology in the fields of both Germanic linguistics and cultural/literary studies.

3. Making judgements.
Students will become familiar with the most up-to-date critical debate on philological topics, and will be able to evaluate different hypotheses posed by the scholars, as well as to pose alternative hypotheses.

4. Communication skills.
Students will be able to communicate their conclusions - and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these - clearly and unambiguously. They will also be able to use the correct register.

5. Learning skills.
By studying the recommended books under the guidance of the teacher, students will develop those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.

No specific prerequisites are required. Absolute beginners can attend the module.

The modern Germanic languages within the Indo-European language family, comparative-historical linguistics
Main sound change phenomena, morphology and syntax of the older and medieval Germanic languages, in a comparative perspective with the modern stages of the languages studied.
The ethnogenesis of the Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples in Tacitus, juridical and social aspects.
The religion of the Germanic peoples
The Migration period
The runes
The Langobards in Italy: linguistic and cultural heritage.
Sources: the Goth, English, German and Nordic areas
Translation and commentary of selected textual excerpts.
German-speaking linguistic islands in Italy (Walser, Cimbrian and Mòcheno)

Materials uploaded onto the moodle platform
Francovich Onesti, N. Filologia Germanica: lingue e culture dei germani antichi, Carocci Editore, Studi Superiori. Chapters 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4.8, 3.5.
Zironi, A. (2022). Filologia germanica. Lingua, storia, cultura, testi. Firenze: Le Monnier Università. Chapters 4, 5, 6.

Students who are not able to attend classes are kindly asked to contact the lecturer in order to receive further bibliographic indications about supplementary materials.

The written exam consists of a multiple-choice test and an open question.
- The exam lasts 50 min. (+/-10).
- PART ONE, fifteen (15) multiple-choice questions (three possible answers, only one of which is correct). Number of mistakes allowed to access Part two: six (6).
- PART TWO, one (1) open question (to be chosen between three possible topics).
- Multiple-choice questions allow to test the acquisition of basic knowledge, as well as logical skills; open questions allow to test scientific writing and critical thought.
More specifically:
- Knowledge and understanding: checked through the multiple-choice questions;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: checked through specific multiple-choice questions (e.g. manipulation of linguistic forms, derivations, etc.);
- Making judgements: checked through the open question;
- Communication skills: checked through the open question;
- Learning skills: checked through the autonomy of judgement inferable from the open question.

Lectures; teacher-led discussions in class.

Italian

Due to logistic reasons, division into groups must be thoroughly respected (De Bastiani: A-L).

written