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

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

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE
Cicero, Pro Milone (a selection).

II. ELEMENTS OF LATIN
phonetics, morphology, vocabulary, syntax.

III. AUTHORS
Suetonius, Caesar, par. 1-44, 55-56, 76-85

IV. CRITICAL ESSAYS
vd. Bibliogaphy

SEMINARS

I semester:

- Basic level courses, only for OFA students.

II semester:

- Lectures from Suetonius (E. Mattioni), monday 13-15; 17-18.30; Aula Pascoli

- Latin Language: Intermediate 1st level (morphology and basic elements of syntax) (A. Bertocchi), Thuesday 17-18.30; Thursday 17-18.30 Aula Pascoli

 

Readings/Bibliography

I. SPECIAL FOCUS COURSE

Cicerone, In difesa di Milone, a cura di Paolo Fedeli, Venezia, Marsilio, 1990.

II. ELEMENTS OF LATIN
- 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).

III. AUTHORS
Svetonio, Vita di Cesare, introd., trad. e commento di C. Scandamburlo, Pisa, Plus Università di Pisa, 2011; as an alternative, Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars; translated with an introduction and notes by Catharine Edwards, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2000.


IV. CRITICAL ESSAYS

P. Fedeli, Un cadavere eccellente, in Cicerone, In difesa di Milone, a cura di P.F., Venezia, Marsilio, 1990, pp. 9-39.

Students who don't attend the course are required to read also 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.

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 exam has two parts:

- a written multiple choice Latin test, performed on the computer, concerning morphology and elemets of syntax.

N.B. The written test is compulsory and must be overcome before the oral exam of Lingua Latina. A negative mark prevents from accessing to the viva voce examination.

- 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.

- the exam can be divided into to parts (special focus course and core course and taken on two different sessions. The exam on core course has to be taken before the exam on special focus course (the second part has to be taken within two sessions)

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.

Teaching tools

Lectures in classroom are scheduled in the II semester (III period). In addiction to lectures, there will be seminars, focused on beginners or intermediate linguistic skills, as well as on the Latin texts required for the exam.
In the first semester (periods I-II), there will be the beginners course, addressed to the OFA students; OFA students can take the exam of Latin Language only after having passed a final exam related to the OFA courses.

In the second semester (periods III-IV) there will be further seminars, devoted to Latin language (phonetics, morphology and syntax) and to the Latin texts required for the exam.

Online teaching materials will be provided (see webpage above) and handouts with the same content will be spread in class.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Pirovano