Università Roma Tre

Medieval English and German authors between Latin and the Vernacular languages

The aim of the course is to describe the medieval author's concern with the diffusion of knowledge  and his concept of vernacular literacy through the analysis of texts, prologues, letters coming from the Germanic milieu. Special attention will be paid to the relationship between Latin and the vernacular languages, to translation strategies, to the use of different languages and dialects within the same text and to the intended audience. 
The works analyzed will serve as the starting point for outlining the main literary and cultural conditions and circumstances in which they were produced and for widening and refining the students’ knowledge in the field of diachronic linguistics and textual tradition. Students will learn how to use the principle bibliographical instruments for carrying out individual or team investigations on semantic, morphological, syntactic and literary aspects.
Seminars, with students’ presentations of individual researches, will be held. Visits to historical libraries will be planned.

A selection of chapters and passages from the following texts:
- J. Wilcox, Ælfric's Prefaces. Durham Medieval Texts 1994
- O. Erdmann (ed.), Otfrids Evangelienbuch, Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag 1973
- J.C. King - P.W. Tax, Notker Labeo. Die kleineren Schriften, Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag 1996
- J. Wogan-Browne et alii, The Idea of the Vernacular: An Anthology of Middle English Literary Theory, 1280–1520, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999.
- D. Crystal, The Stories of English, London : Penguin Books, 2004.
- A.M. Luiselli Fadda, Tradizioni manoscritte e critica del testo nel Medioevo germanico, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2010.

Further material will be given at the beginning of the course.
Students are advised to attend classes. Those who cannot attend them are requested to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course.