13275 - Latin Language (1)

Learning outcomes

The skills that will be obtained by the end of the course: knowledge of phonetics, morphology and basic syntax; abliity to translate and carry out a literary analysis of the texts listed in the programme.

Course contents

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

Seneca, Consolatio ad Helviam matrem: reading of a selection of passages.

 

II. CORE COURSE

Latin Language: phonetics, morphology, vocabulary, syntax.

 

III. AUTHORS

Reading of Cornelius Nepos, De viris illustribus (Praefatio and Vita Attici).

 

IV. CRITICAL ESSAYS

See Bibliography.

 

IMPORTANT:

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

• Students who choose the course as a single exam or outside the choices in the course syllabus are required to contact the teacher BEFORE making their choice final.

• Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities are invited to get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the teacher in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

• 2nd semester: online classes on Cornelius Nepos De viris illustribus (Praefatio and Vita Attici) with dr. Michele Castaldo: information will be provided in due time. 
  

Readings/Bibliography

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

Texts:

• Lucio Anneo Seneca, Le consolazioni (A Marcia, Alla madre Elvia, A Polibio), introduzione, traduzione e note di Alfonso Traina, Milano, BUR, 1987.

• A. Cotrozzi, Seneca. La Consolatio ad Helviam matrem con un'antologia di testi, Roma, Carocci, 2014.

• English editions may be used only for the translation.

 

II. CORE COURSE

• 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, chapters I-VI (on peculiar aspects of phonetics, morphology and syntax).

• Suggested Latin handbook for beginners: F. Lubian – L. Salvioni, Latino zero. Guida all'apprendimento della lingua, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2025.
  

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

 

III. 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.

• L. Galli, Commento a Cornelio Nepote, Vita di Attico, Bologna, Pàtron, 2025.
  

 

IV. CRITICAL ESSAYS

Students are required to read one critical essay chosen from the following:

• R. Degl’Innocenti Pierini, In nome della madre: pathos tragico e retorica degli affetti nella Consolatio ad Helviam matrem di Seneca, «Paideia» 52, 1997, pp. 109-120.

• R. Degl’Innocenti Pierini, «Ritratto di famiglia»: Seneca e i suoi nella Consolatio ad Helviam, in Gli Annei: una famiglia nella storia e nella cultura di Roma imperiale, a cura di I. Gualandri e G. Mazzoli, Como 2003, pp. 339-356.

• G.D. Williams, States of exile, states of mind: paradox and reversal in Seneca's «Consolatio ad Helviam matrem», in Seeing Seneca whole: perspectives on philosophy, poetry, and politics, ed. by K. Volk and G.D. Williams, Leiden-Boston 2006, pp. 147-173.

• A. Wilcox, Exemplary grief: gender and virtue in Seneca's consolations to women, «Helios» 33.1, 2006, pp. 73-100.

Teaching methods

For the special focus course, lectures by the teacher with reading, morphological and syntactical analysis and commentary on the text. Students will be encouraged by the teacher to actively participate in the lesson by asking questions or raising doubts. 

Assessment methods

The exam consists of:

• A written multiple choice Latin test, performed on the computer, concerning morphology and elements of syntax. IMPORTANT: The written test is mandatory and must be passed before the oral exam of Lingua Latina. A negative mark prevents from accessing to the viva voce examination. The text consists of 25 questions in 30 minutes. The test is passed with a minimum mark of 15/25. The validity of the test is 6 months.

• 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 programme.

• It is possible to divide the oral examination into two parts ('istituzionale' and 'monografico'), which can be taken on separate dates. Once you have passed the institutional part, you can take the monographic part within the next two calls (e.g. you pass the institutional part in September, and you can take the monographic part in the October or November calls). Important: If the validity of the written test expires after you have passed the institutional, you do not need to re-sit the test to take the monograph.

 

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.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the teacher, who will assess their appropriateness in relation to the teaching objectives.

 

Exams and the use of AI

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support independent study by providing in-depth analysis, summaries and self-assessment exercises. With regard to the assessment of learning, the use of AI is prohibited during face-to-face exams. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

• Teaching materials (e.g. slides, pdfs, available on Virtuale).

• Online seminar on Cornelius Nepos.

• Video-lessons of Latin available here

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Ricchieri