Modern Philology

ALESSANDRO DEL TOMBA

A) Students will know the scientific literature on the topics dealt with and will be able to comment on it critically;
B) they will be able to formulate linguistic hypotheses on the basis of the acquired analytical concepts and tools;
C) they will be able to integrate their new knowledge with the previous ones in order to face the theoretical and practical complexity of acquired concepts;
D) they also will manage to communicate knowledge entering in discussion with specialists of linguistic studies and non-specialists.
E) They will lastly be able to study self-managed or autonomous topics proposed during the course and will be encouraged to cultivate their own scientific interests independently.

Students will be required to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course and presented in the reference bibliography; they will acquire abilities of analysis, reflection and comparison concerning the main areas of diachronic linguistics, comparative linguistics and the theory of language contact.
Students will be able to demonstrate the full understanding of the syllabus of the course; they should apply the knowledge acquired to relevant issues in a thoughtful and critical way; they will acquire the appropriate skills to build and support arguments related to the topics covered by the course, and to apply the suitable techniques and methods to the field.
Students will be able to express judgments in an autonomous form, on the basis of examples provided in the lectures and/or in the bibliographic resources provided, and prove to be able to find and interpret data in order to formulate answers to general – both concrete and abstract – problems.
Students will be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and related solutions; to demonstrate adequate capacity of synthesis and expressive ability in the light of the specific terminology.
Students will develop the skills necessary to undertake further studies with a certain degree of autonomy.

Knowledge of General Linguistics (L-LIN/01) is strongly recommended.

The course is devoted to historical linguistics. It is structured around three modules: (1) linguistic variation and change from the point of view of phonology, morphosyntax, and semantics; (2) introduction to the comparative method, which will also be analysed through the study of the discipline since the eighteen century and in the light of the relationship between typology and reconstruction; (3) interconnectedness between genetic relationship and language contact.

Attending students:
(1) Ciancaglini, C. A. e A. Keidan, Linguistica generale e storica, Volume II, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2018 , pp. 1-123; 206-240;
(2) Handouts and work materials.

Non-attending students:
(1) Ciancaglini, C. A. e A. Keidan, Linguistica generale e storica, Volume II, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2018 (intero volume).
(2) Milizia, P., Le lingue indoeuropee, Carocci, Roma.

Traditional lectures with eventual support of presentations.

Frequency is not mandatory but highly recommended.

Oral examination.

Grimm's Law.