RLS108 History of Latin Language

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Daniela Urbanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Daniela Urbanová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! LJ108 History of Latin Language
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the course is a brief introduction to the history and particular stages of development of Latin language in a broader socio-cultural context, from the early stages to the birth of the Romance languages. Further will provide the students with basic knowledge about the character and function of Latin in late antiquity and in Middleages. Through commented reading of selected literary, epigraphic or scientific texts.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be acquainted with single stages of the development of Latin language from the oldest period to the birth of the Romance languages and will be able to describe and compare these linguistic stages regarding to their chronology, genre and stylistics. The student will be able familiar with the main features of the phenomenon of latin langage in Middleages; will be informed about the most important deviations of mediaeval Latin from the classical Latin norm. Will be able to characterize the single stages of linguistic development in selected texts.
Syllabus
  • 1. Latin and its place between the languages of Ancient Italy. Ethnonym and glottonym, centre and periphery.
  • 2. Literacy in archaic Latium, writers and orthography, standardisation. Formulae and rituals: legal, religious and magical texts. Public life:language of politics and administration.
  • 3. Beginning of literary language: prose; formation of epic language, language of the tragedy (Cato, Ennius, Pacuvius, Accius)
  • 4. Language of the palliata (Plautus a Terentius).
  • 5. Lucretius - language of poetry and philosophy. Catullus - carmina docta.
  • 6. Language of the classical epic - Vergil. Ovid - elegiac paradigm.
  • 7. Classic prose - Cicero.
  • 8. Historiography - from Sallust to Tacitus.
  • 9. Language of novel.
  • 10. Language of science and technology. Roman grammarians.
  • 11. Latin at the end of Antiquity. Christian and vulgar Latin.
  • 12. Character and function of Latin language in the Middleages.
  • 13. Deviations of mediaeval Latin from the classical Latin norm (examples from phonology, morphology, syntax and vocabulary.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ADAMS, J. N. Social variation and the Latin language. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013, xxi, 933. ISBN 9780521886147. info
  • CLACKSON, James and Geoffrey C. HORROCKS. The Blackwell history of the Latin language. 1st pub. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2007, viii, 324. ISBN 9781405162098. info
  • NOVOTNÝ, František. Latinská mluvnice pro střední školy. D. 3, Doplňky. Sv. 1, Hláskosloví a nauka o slově. Praha: Jednota českých filologů, 1946, 227 s. info
  • STOLZ, Friedrich. Geschichte der lateinischen Sprache. Edited by Albert Debrunner. 2. Aufl. Berlin: Vereinigung wissenschaftlicher Verleger Walter de Gruyter & Co., 1922, 131 s. info
    not specified
  • A. Vidmanová, „K některým otázkám středolatinské filologie.“ Listy filologické 86 (1963): 140-148.
  • F. A. C. Mantello – A. G. Rigg. Medieval Latin. An Introduction and Bibliographical Guide. Washington 1996, s. 71-105, 122-156.
  • A companion to the Latin language. Edited by James Clackson. 1st pub. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, xxvi, 634. ISBN 9781405186056. info
  • NECHUTOVÁ, Jana. Středověká latina (Medieval Latin). První vyd. Praha: KLP, 2002, 164 pp. 654,2. ISBN 80-85917-82-3. info
  • POCCETTI, Paolo, Diego POLI and Carlo SANTINI. Una storia della lingua latina : formazione, usi, comunicazione. 2. ristampa. Roma: Carocci editore, 2001, 431 s. ISBN 8843011804. info
Teaching methods
lecture; home reading; class discussion
Assessment methods
Regular attendance and active class participation; homeworks, attendance 75%. Final written test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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