13275 - Latin Language (1) (D-L)

Learning outcomes

Knowledge to be obtained by the end of the course: 1) the student knows elements of phonetics of the Latin language 2) he knows morphology, syntax and basic vocabulary of the Latin language 3) he knows some basic elements of the history of the Latin language aimed to provide a full understanding of the main morphological structures. Skills to be obtained by the end of the course: 1) the student can pronounce the Latin language correctly 2) he can recognize and describe the main morphosyntatic structures 3) he can decline nouns, pronouns, adjectives and conjugate verbs correctly 4) he can translate and analyze previously seen texts.

Course contents

The course will start on 1 February 2027

1 SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

1.1 The Song of Orpheus. Book X of the Metamorphoses opens with the tragic tale of Orpheus, the legendary poet renowned for his ability to captivate humans and animals alike with his art, which combined music and poetry. In Ovid's retelling, Orpheus, tormented by grief over the loss of his beloved Eurydice, places love at the heart of his enchanting song. He delves into the tale of forbidden passions experienced by gods and humans alike.
The text invites reflection on the power that the ancients attributed to poetry, which was capable of engaging with human emotions and guiding them. Orpheus is thus a model in whom Ovid himself is reflected, as demonstrated by the choice to assign the mythical singer the task of addressing the erotic theme — a subject with which the author of the Metamorphoses had long been engaged through the cultivation of elegy.
We will read the opening section of Book X of the Metamorphoses that contextualises the figure of Orpheus (lines 1–154), and then the most transgressive love story he sings of, featuring the young Myrrha (lines 300–518).
We will also read the prologue to the entire poem (Book I, lines 1–4).

1.2 CRITICAL ESSAYS

see Bibliography

Non-attending students are required to read M. Fruyt, Word-Formation in Classical Latin, in A companion to the Latin language, edited by James Clackson, Maiden (MA)-Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011 (= 2005), pp. 157-175 (available on Virtuale, among the teaching materials)

2 CORE COURSE

2.1 Latin Language: phonetics, morphology, vocabulary, syntax.

2.2 AUTHORS
Lectures from Cornelius Nepos, De viris illustribus (Praefatio and Vita Attici).

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is recommended that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ) and your teacher to discuss the most effective strategies for following the course and/or preparing for the exam.

If you choose the course as a single exam or outside the choices in the course syllabus, please contact the teacher BEFORE making your choice final.

SEMINARS

First semester: basic-level seminars (compulsory for OFA students).

Second semester:

Online seminar in Cornelius Nepos: held by Dr. Michele Castaldo: Tue. 1:00-2:30 p.m. (5 lessons, starting February 17)

the virtual classroom can be accessed at the NEW link https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZWViNTkxZjgtOTI2Zi00MzNmLWIwZTUtMzI3YjAyZmJiNTcz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22e99647dc-1b08-454a-bf8c-699181b389ab%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2221738a95-77a9-4791-b0b5-97566ee005fd%22%7d

Readings/Bibliography

1 SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

1.1 The song of Orpheus.

Texts: Ovidio, Metamorfosi. Libri 10-12, a cura di J. D. Reed, Milano, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla-A. Mondadori, 2005 (rist. 2011); pp. 8-18 e 28-45 (Latin text and trad.), pp. 165-201 e 233-267 (commentary).

1.2 CRITICAL ESSAYS

one critical reading to be chosen from the following list:

-A. Barchiesi, Per una lettura delle Metamorfosi di Ovidio, in F. Citti, L. Pasetti, D. Pellacani, Metamorfosi tra scienza e letteratura, Firenze 2014, pp. 123-135.

- A. Bonandini, Pudore proiecto tua facta loquar: la comunicazione reticente delle eroine pudibundae di Ovidio, Aevum Antiquum 20, 2020, pp. 283-305.

- F. Citti–L. Pasetti, Metamorfosi tra scienza e letteratura: temi e lessico, in F. Citti, L. Pasetti, D. Pellacani,  Metamorfosi tra scienza e letteratura, Firenze 2014, pp. 1-23

- J. G. Landels, Music in Ancient Greece and Rome, London-New York 1999, pp. 107-116 (cap. 6, Music and Myth).

- M. Lowrie, Writing, Performance, and Authority in Augustan Rome, Oxford 2009, pp. 1-23 (cap. 1 arma virumque cano).

- E. Spentzou, Orpheus, Byblis, Myrrha: towards a matrixial ethics of encounter in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, International Journal of the Classical Tradition 26.4 (2019), pp. 417-432.

- Ch. Segal, The Myth of the Poet, London, 1984 (a chapter by choice).

2 CORE COURSE

2.1 Latin Language

I. Dionigi – E. Riganti – L. Morisi, Il latino, Bari, Laterza 2011, or Verba et res. Morfosintassi e lessico del latino, 2 voll., Bari, Laterza, 1999;

A. Traina – G. Bernardi Perini, Propedeutica al latino universitario, Bologna, Pàtron, 1995, capp. I-VI (on peculiar topics of phonetics, morphology, syntax).

As an alternative for English motherlanguage, Allen and Greenough's New Latin grammar, Ginn & Company, Boston-NY-Chicago, 1903 (both for syntax and morphology).

2.2 AUTHORS

Cornelius Nepos, De viris illustribus: as for Praefatio and Vita Attici are concerned, a translation into Italian, with commentary on grammar will be available among the teaching material.

Teaching methods

Lecture is the teaching approach adopted for the special focus course;
interactive lessons are used in the seminars: here the students are more active participants to the learning process, which includes exercises and periodical tests.

Assessment methods

 

 

The assessment methods, in particular the written test, may modified if requested by the Covid emergency

The exam has two parts:

- A written test, to be taken on a PC, with closed-ended questions to assess knowledge of basic morphosyntax. There are 25 questions to be answered in 30 minutes, with a cut-off score of 15/25. Each question is worth 1 point; there is no difference between a wrong and a correct answer. The test lasts exactly 6 months (from the exact date of taking the test, e.g. a test taken on 10 June would expire on 10 December).

- A viva voce examination: the students will be tested in Latin phonetics, morphology and syntax through the reading and translation of the Latin texts dealt with in class and listed in the program.

- It is possible to divide the examination into separate sessions: the first part (Core course) must be taken first; if you pass the first part, you can take the secondo part (Special focus course) in the same session or within two sessions (e.g. if you take the ifirst part in January, you can skip the immediately following session, but you will have to finish the second part in the next session). If the exam expires after you have passed the first part part, you do not need to retake it to face the second part exam.

Assessment guidelines:

- failing grades: lack of basic linguistic knowledge (phonetics, morphology, basic syntax) and inability to produce a correct translation and a correct interpretation of the texts.

- passing grades: proficiency in the basic linguistic skills; translation and interpretation of texts mostly correct, but inaccurate and lacking in autonomy.

- positive grades: language proficiency at an intermediate level; translation and interpretation of the texts fully correct, but not always accurate and autonomous.

- excellent grades: language proficiency at an upper-mid level; translation and interpretation of the texts not only correct but performed with autonomy and precision.

N.B.

Students with LDSs or a temporary or permanent disability: it is advisable to contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) in good time: it will be their task to propose any adjustments to the students concerned, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the teacher for approval; the teacher will assess their appropriateness in relation to the teaching objectives

Teaching tools

1. Some teaching materials, such as slides/pdf files shown during lessons, and reading aids for Cornelius Nepos have been or will be uploaded to Virtuale during the course.
2. Seminars (cf. course content) aimed to the introduction to the bases of the Latin language (phonetics, morphology and syntax) and to the texts belonging to the program (Suetonius).
3. Latin Video lessons, available at https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=34645

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Pasetti