00381 - Romance Philology (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course the student has the knowledge of the Romance literatures (especially of the Middle Ages) and the Romance languages (from the origins to the present day) learned in a comparative perspective. The student also acquires notions about the position of Italian among the Romance languages and their expansion in Europe and worldwide, as well as textual philology issues, including the literary communication and semiotics. He also develops the ability to make use of the tools of the discipline (dictionaries, grammars, databases, etc.), to read the sources (through ancient manuscripts and critical editions) and to apply them to the analysis of texts.

Course contents

The course (second semester; biginning: 3 february 2020) is organized into two sections:

1. Introduction to Romance Philology

1. Subject of this Section is the origin and development of the Romance languages with especial consideration of Italian and Gallo-Roman (French and Provencal) studied from a historical and comparative point of view. Topics: vulgar Latin; origin and classification of the Romance languages; standard language and dialects; the so-called "Romania nova"; the main features of the Romances languages: phonology; morphology; syntax; vocabulary; the first documents of French and Italian.

2. Outline of medieval Romance literatures from their biginnings to the XIII century.

   A previous knowledge of Romance languages other than Italian is not required. Knowledge of basic Latin is commended.

2. The beginnings of the European lyric poetry (also in Dante's perspective)

1. Lecture and explication of some medieval Occitan, French and Galician-Portuguese lyrics in a comparative perspective in order to show the biginnings of the modern European lyric poetry. The texts will be read in Italian translation. No previous knowledge of ancient and modern Romance languages is required.

2. Lecture, translation and explication of the lyrics quoted in Dante's De vulgari eloquentia.

During the course students will receive the basic notions concerning the old Occitan grammar and prosody.

Students coming from abroad can agree upon another syllabus with the teacher.

Readings/Bibliography

 According to the two parts of the course students will study:

Part I

P.G. Beltrami, La filologia romanza, Bologna, il Mulino, 2017, with especial consideration of Part II, chapters I-IV, and Part III, chapters I, II, V, VI, VII (only the main phenomena presented in the course, with regards to Gallo-Romance and Italian). The knwoledge of the Appendice di metrica is functional to the study of the texts commented during the course.

Part II

1. P. Gresti, Antologia delle letterature romanze del Medioevo, second edition, Bologna, Pàtron, 2011, Section C (Lirica). The texts are to be read in their Italian version, together with the introductions and commentaries (with the exception of the linguistic annotation). The following texts are to be read in the original version and commented upon also from a philological and linguistic point of view: Section A, n. 1 (students will choise 50 lines); Section B, n. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

2.The anthology of the provencal lyrics quoted in De vulgari eloquentia (together with the vidas and razos). The anthology will be available before the beginning of the course both in pdf format (iol.unibo.it platform) and in the printed form (at Fotocopisteria Master Copy, via Cartoleria 4, Bologna). Students will choose four lyrics belonging to four different poets which will be read in the original version, translated and commented together with the vidas and the razos. The other poems, vidas and razos will be read in their Italian translation together with the introductions and commentaries.

As regards the study of old Occitan students can read Au. Roncaglia, La lingua dei Trovatori, Roma, Edizioni dell'Ateneo, 1965 (available also in reprint): the study of this handbook will be oriented to the translation and linguistic analysis of the provencal texts, with especial consideration of phonetics and morphology. See also the Cenni sulla pronuncia dele lingue romanze, in P. Gresti, Antologia delle letterature romanze del Medioevo, cit., p. 31 and 34 (occitanico).

As concerns the historical and literary context, students will read L. Formisano, La lirica romanza del Medioevo, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012. The knowledge of Dante's De vulgari eloquentia is also required.

Supplementary bibliography for students who will not attend the course:

1. The anthology of critical studies presented in L. Formisano, La lirica, Bologna, il Mulino, 1990, pp. 91-429.

2. F. Brugnolo - R. Capelli, Profilo delle letterature romanze medievali, Roma, Carocci, 2019 (prima ediz. 2011), pp. 11-382, 407-437, 439-455.

3. P.G. Beltrami, A che serve un'edizione critica? Leggere i testi della letteratura romanza medievale, Boogna, il Mulino, 2010.

Teaching methods

Readings and commentaries in class introduced with a historical and literary outline.

Assessment methods

Final oral examination concerning the whole course contents, according to the above-given indications. In particular, students are required to show a good ability of independent and critical study, establishing parallels and differences between the texts and illustrating their historical and literary background. Good language skills and knowledge of technical terminonolgy are also required.

Teaching tools

Traditional tools: books, xerocopies, pdf.

Office hours

See the website of Luciano Formisano