30367 - Greek Grammar (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student gains a thorough knowledge of the historical grammar of ancient Greek, and is able to explain the main phenomena of Greek grammar within the frame of Indo-European language system. (S)he is able to appreciate literary and stylistic features of the texts analyzed. (S)he knows rules and tools of textual criticism and dynamics of the history of tradition, and can assign a place in the history of ancient literature to the texts analyzed and read them critically, in the light of their primary contexts and their ways of transmission. By reading ancient texts relevant to grammar and poetics, (S)he becomes familiar with the main trends of ancient Greek reflection on language and literature and is able to estimate its legacy in modern and contemporary art and literature.

Course contents

a) Special focus: elements of historical phonetics and syntax of ancient Greek.

b) Core course: elements of historical morphology of ancient Greek.

Beginning of the course: 11 NOVEMBER 2024 (1st semester, 2nd period).

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/ studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Lecture notes. For phonetics: V. Garulli-C. Neri, Morfologia e storia del greco antico, Roma, Carocci, 2024; M. Lejeune, Phonétique historique du mycénien et du grec ancien, Paris 1972; A.C. Cassio (ed.), Storia delle lingue letterarie greche, Milano 2016, 32-72 (second edition). For syntax: N. Basile, Sintassi storica del greco antico, Bari 2001 (seconda edizione). See also: O. Szemerényi, Introduzione alla linguistica indoeuropea, Milano, Unicopli, 1985; F. Fanciullo, Introduzione alla linguistica storica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011. Further readings will be recommended during the course.

b) For those who have never read a handbook of historical morphology, the reading of one of the following handbooks is required: V. Garulli-C. Neri, Morfologia e storia del greco antico, Roma, Carocci, 2024; L. Heilmann, Grammatica storica della lingua greca, Torino 1963; P. Chantraine, Morphologie historique du grec, Paris 1947.

Attending the course is crucial for learning how to prepare for the exam. Students who cannot attend the course are not required to use an alternative bibliography.

Teaching methods

The lectures will outline a concise historical phonetics and syntax of the Greek language through the reading of original texts, translated and analysed in class.

Assessment methods

A first assessment of the achieved learning outcomes will take place during the course, on the basis of the discussions during the seminars.

The oral examination will be an interview in which the teachers, through a series of questions, will test the theoretical knowledge and the theoretical-practical methodologies as explained during the lectures. In particular, the student will be invited to read a text and to highlight and comment the grammatical phenomena found in that passage.

As a result, the student may be asked to analyze from a grammatical point of view any Greek word found in the text read. The candidate will pass the exam by proving to understand very well the Greek text, to have a firm knowledge of the grammatical structures of ancient Greek, and to be able to place them into a historical perspective. In this case, the evaluation ranges from 18 to 30 cum laude depending on how sure, well-founded, precise and rigorous will be the answers of the candidate.

The maximum grade (30L) requires accurate and complete answers to all questions posed during the oral examination. The exam will be deemed to have been passed (with variable evaluation depending on the quality of the answers) if the candidate has answered in a precise and complete manner to most questions. As for the theoretical knowledge and the translation and exegesis of the texts, the metric is the following: outstanding: 30L; excellent: 28-30; good: 25-27; discrete: 22-24; sufficient: 18-21.

Exam registration must be made through AlmaEsami at the following website: https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/ studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Documents will be uploaded at Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Garulli