EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
To understand the process of the formation of the Romance languages from their common Latin origin; to identify the main phonological and morphosyntactic changes that occurred in the evolution from Latin to the Romance languages; to recognize the main genres of medieval Romance literature and identify the formal and thematic features that characterize them; to analyze and comment on the selected texts from a philological, historical-literary, metrical, rhetorical, and linguistic perspective; to acquire basic linguistic and philological terminology.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and methodological tools necessary to understand and analyze Romance texts, particularly medieval ones, from a linguistic and literary point of view; students will be expected to understand the main phenomena involved in the evolution from Latin to the Romance languages and how these new languages became vehicles for new literatures, articulated in new literary genres.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Independent judgment:
Students will be expected to critically interpret linguistic and literary data and issues related to the subject, and to reflect on the main topics by formulating independent judgments.
Communication skills:
Students will be expected to communicate clearly and appropriately, to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, regarding topics and issues related to the field of medieval Romance linguistics, literature, and philology.
Learning skills:
Students will be expected to acquire the fundamental concepts of the discipline so as to be able to pursue further studies in related linguistic, literary, and philological fields, including at more advanced levels.
Basic notions of general linguistics; a basic knowledge of Latin is useful but not essential.
Lectures: the first 24 hours will be devoted to the analysis of the main Romance linguistic phenomena; the second 24 hours will be dedicated to the reading and philological-literary commentary of medieval Romance texts.
The exam will consist of an oral test on the topics covered, aimed at assessing the ability to critically present the acquired knowledge.
Language of the exam: Italian.
Evaluation criteria: the assessment will be based on the coherence of the argumentation, completeness of information, correct use of terminology, and the ability to apply concepts and analytical procedures in an original manner.
Attending students:
Non-attending students must instead study:
The Formation of the Romance Languages
Standard Latin and Sub-standard Latin: diatopy, diastraty, diaphasia, diachrony
Substrate, Adstrate, and Superstrate Phenomena
Phonological Change
Vocalism: Latin vowel system, Romance vowel systems, diphthongization, vowel mutation, influences of: final vowel, palatal, nasal
Consonantism: Latin consonant system, lenition, palatalization
Morphological Change
Nominal Morphology
Verbal Morphology
Morphosyntax
Unity and Structure of Medieval Romance Literary Production
Religious Literature: reading and commentary of texts
Lyric Poetry: reading and commentary of texts
Epic Poetry: reading and commentary of texts
The Romance: reading and commentary of texts
italian
