The goal of the course is to provide the student with:

- the methodological tools useful for studying the Greek dialects in their correct historical context;

- the technical knowledge of the morphological elements characterizing Greek dialects, especially in the context of literary languages;

- the skill to recognize specific dialectal forms in literary texts;

- the skill to identify the peculiarities of literary languages and their correlation with the different genres.

The students will therefore be able to improve and expand the linguistic and literary knowledge of learning skills acquired in the bachelor's degree and avail themselves of a deeper awareness of the Greek language. The preparation, achieved through the study of ancient texts and specialized textbooks, will enable the student to take a more comprehensive approach to classical literary texts, as required by the profile of this Course of Study.

The program focuses on the fundamental problems of the history of the Greek language, covering at the historical level the origin and evolution of the different dialects, and at the grammatical level the main phonological and morphological aspects. The skills thus acquired will be put into practice through the in-depth investigation of some texts from Bacchilides' poetry.

The following topics will be covered in the first part of the course:

- hints of the earliest history concerning the territorial expansion of the Greeks, migrations, and formation of dialects, with special attention to the relationships between mythical tales, archaeological data and linguistic data;

- a brief discussion of writing systems and text transmission (from local archaic alphabets to Hellenistic editions);

- the main phonetic and morphological aspects of the different dialect groups (Doric, Aeolic, Ionic-Attic, Archaic-Cypriot), framed in an Indo-European perspective;

- the concept of 'literary languages' and their relationship, of proximity but also of estrangement, to the actual dialects documented by epigraphic texts;

In the second part of the semester, as an exemplification of the use of literary dialects, Bacchilides' Dithyrambs will be translated and commented on, especially from a linguistic point of view.

None

At the end of the course the student will have acquired:

Knowledge and understanding

- knowledge of the topics covered in the course;

- knowledge of the main outlines of the history of the Greek language, concerning its origin and evolution;

- skill to orient themselves in the field of the acquired linguistic and dialectal knowledge.

Applying knowledge and understanding

- knowledge of the specific linguistic and dialectical features characterizing the archaic poetic texts;

- skill to apply linguistic knowledge to the analysis of texts belonging to the literary genre of choral poetry.

Making judgements

- ability to acquire technical skills in the area of Greek language such that autonomous, scientifically based judgments can be formulated.

Communication skills

- skill to communicate clearly and precisely, using discipline-specific vocabulary, the technical skills acquired;

- skill to argue issues and problems in this specific field of study.

Learning skills

- skill to analyse Greek texts and identify their linguistic and dialectal features;

- skill to independently construct tools for investigation and in-depth linguistic study of different types of texts.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The course can be supplemented by relevant seminars and conferences or, in any case, of educational and methodological relevance with regard to the methods and the themes of ancient Greek Literature.

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

A good knowledge of the ancient Greek language is strictly required.

Attending students are requested to regularly take part in lectures and, if provided, supplementary seminars.

Course books

The preparation of the institutional part will be based on the contents of the introductory lectures given during the course and the study of the General Introduction of the textbook A. C. Cassius (ed.), Storia delle Lingue Letterarie greche, Mondadori, Milano 2016,  The student will also have to choose at least 4 chapters from the same volume concerning the literary languages of the different poetic and prosastic genres.

For the translation of Bacchylides' Dithyrambs, the edition of H. Maehler, Bacchylides, Teubner, Monachii et Lipsiae, 2003, will be used. For an Italian translation see M. Giuseppetti, Bacchilide.Odi e frammenti, Rizzoli, Milano, 2005; R. Sevieri, Bacchilide, Ditirambi, La Vita Felice, Milano, 2010.

Supplementary readings

the student is required to read two of the following articles:

- F. Garcìa Romero, The Dithyrambs of Bacchylides: Their Position in the Evolution of the Genre” in A. Bagordo – B. Zimmermann, Bakchylides: 100 Jahre nach seiner Wiederentdeckung, Verlag, Munchen, 2000, pp. 47-57.

- G. Danek, Heroic and athletic contest in Bacchylides 17, in Wiener Studien 121, 2008, pp. 71-83.

- D. A. Schmidt, Bacchylides 17: Paean or Dithyramb?, Hermes 118, 1990, pp. 18-31.

- P. Angeli Bernardini, Trittico bacchilideo, Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 79, 2005, pp. 11-28.

- E. Carawan, Deianira’s Guilt, Transactions of American Philological Association 130, 2000, pp. 189-237.

Further bibliography will eventually be indicated by the teacher during the lessons.

The texts indicated are available at the University Library of San Girolamo.

Assessment

The exam consists in an oral test on the theoretical part of the course (corresponding to the manual) and on the part concerning the translation and the linguistic commentary of the archaic poetic texts read and analysed during the course. Both of the parts will affect 50% on the evaluation and the final vote.

Excellent - students who demonstrate: excellent knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; good critical and in-depth skills; a solid ability to connect the main issues addressed in the course; use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Good - students who demonstrate: good knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; a good knowledge of the contents, lacking however strong critical and in-depth skills; a modest ability to connect the various issues dealt with: use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Sufficient - students who demonstrate: sufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; basic knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite some possible weaknesses; use of inappropriate language.

Negative - students who demonstrate: insufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; insufficient knowledge of the topics dealt with; significant difficulties; use of inappropriate language.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

Individual study

Attendance

The programme for non-attending students is the same as for attending students.

Non-attending students can contact the teacher for explanations. 

Solid knowledge of the ancient Greek language is required.

Course books

The preparation of the institutional part will be based on the contents of the introductory lectures given during the course and the study of the General Introduction of the textbook A. C. Cassius (ed.), Storia delle Lingue Letterarie greche, Mondadori, Milano 2016,  The student will also have to choose at least 4 chapters from the same volume concerning the literary languages of the different poetic and prosastic genres.

For the translation of Bacchylides' Dithyrambs, the edition of H. Maehler, Bacchylides, Teubner, Monachii et Lipsiae, 2003, will be used. For an Italian translation see M. Giuseppetti, Bacchilide.Odi e frammenti, Rizzoli, Milano, 2005; R. Sevieri, Bacchilide, Ditirambi, La Vita Felice, Milano, 2010.

Supplementary readings

the student is required to read two of the following articles:

- F. Garcìa Romero, The Dithyrambs of Bacchylides: Their Position in the Evolution of the Genre” in A. Bagordo – B. Zimmermann, Backchylides: 100 Jahre nach seiner Wiederentdeckung, Verlag, Munchen, 2000, pp. 47-57.

- G. Danek, Heroic and athletic contest in Bacchylides 17, in Wiener Studien 121, 2008, pp. 71-83.

- D. A. Schmidt, Bacchylides 17: Paean or Dithyramb?, Hermes 118, 1990, pp. 18-31.

- P. Angeli Bernardini, Trittico bacchilideo, Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 79, 2005, pp. 11-28.

- E. Carawan, Deianira’s Guilt, Transactions of American Philological Association 130, 2000, pp. 189-237.

Assessment

The exam consists in an oral test on the theoretical part of the course (corresponding to the manual) and on the part concerning the translation and the linguistic commentary of the archaic poetic texts read and analysed during the course. Both of the parts will affect 50% on the evaluation and the final vote.

Excellent - students who demonstrate: excellent knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; good critical and in-depth skills; a solid ability to connect the main issues addressed in the course; use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Good - students who demonstrate: good knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; a good knowledge of the contents, lacking however strong critical and in-depth skills; a modest ability to connect the various issues dealt with: use of appropriate language for the specific discipline.

Sufficient - students who demonstrate: sufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; basic knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite some possible weaknesses; use of inappropriate language.

Negative - students who demonstrate: insufficient knowledge of ancient Greek language and its historical development; insufficient knowledge of the topics dealt with; significant difficulties; use of inappropriate language.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.