Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to Romance Philology

A. Linguistics (one volume chosen among):
A'. L. Minervini, Filologia romanza, 2. Linguistica, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2021;
A''. C. Tagliavini, Le origini delle lingue neolatine, Bologna, Patron, 1982 [1a ed. 1949].

B. History of medieval romance literature (one chosen among):
B'. A. Vitale-Brovarone, La civiltà letteraria francese nei secoli medievali, in L. Sozzi (dir.), Storia della civiltà letteraria francese, Torino 1993, vol. I, pp. 1-200
B''. A. Roncaglia, Le origini della lingua e della letteratura italiana, Torino 2006 (new ed.) [= A. Roncaglia, Origini, in E. Cecchi, N. Sapegno (dir.), Letteratura italiana, Milano 1965, vol. I, pp. 1-269]

Knowledge:
- basic knowledge of the transition from Latin to Romance languages;
- knowledge of the main features of Romance languages;
- basic knowledge of the main moments and articulation of Medieval literary history.
Skills:
- ability to independently face and critically analyse a a problem of Romance linguistic.
Transversal skills:
- refinement of the skills of presentation of the topics covered in class and studied independently.

Basic knowledge usually acquired at high school.

Lessons, seminar classes and individual study.

The final exam includes an oral exam (30-40 minutes), in which the knowledge inserted between the objectives and the learning outcomes will be verified. The exam is divided into three sections: 1) linguistics (topics covered in class and study of one of the two recommended volumes about Romance linguistics); 2. literary history (study of one of the two recommended volumes); 3. exemplification on a text examined in class about a problem of Romance linguistics..
Point 1. will weigh 35% of the final grade, point 2. 35%; point 3. 30% Honors will be awarded based on acuity, depth, and ability to process the answer.

The module is organized in 15 didactic unities. Following topics will be treated:
- The phonological system of Latin and that of the Romance languages;
- variety; in Latin and Romance languages;
- the substrate;
- the superstrate;
- the languages of medieval and modern Europe;
- traits of historical phonetics of the main Romance languages;
- traits of historical morphology of the main Romance languages;
- elements of syntax;
- geolinguistics;
- toponymy and antroponymy;
- sample reading of passages in some Romance languages.

Non attending students will choose a program with the teacher.

Students will know:
- (basic level) how to use a good Italian language and the lexicon of philology to expose knowledge acquired during the course;
- (advanced level) how to approach with confidence and autonomy a text in a Romance language, using specific bibliographical tools.