SEMITIC PHILOLOGY

The Semitic Philology course is part of the LICSAAM study program, Middle East and Africa curriculum. It provides students with a solid foundation in the study of Semitic languages from a historical and comparative perspective. The course offers essential tools for linguistic and philological analysis, which are fundamental for studying the languages and civilizations of the Near and Middle East, both in ancient and modern times.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• understand the classification of Semitic languages and their geographical and historical distribution;
• analyze the main phonological, morphological, and syntactic characteristics of Semitic languages;
• compare different languages within the Semitic family to identify linguistic relationships;
• understand key linguistic change phenomena and apply them to the study of Semitic languages.

Knowledge of Italian and English; basic knowledge of at least one Semitic language, depending on the student’s academic curriculum.

Content overview:
• general introduction to Semitic languages: geographical distribution, historical aspects, main linguistic features, and fundamental text;
• classification and description of Semitic languages;
• aspects of phonology, morphology, syntax, and typology of Semitic languages, also from a comparative perspective;
• genetic relationships among Semitic languages and principles of linguistic reconstruction.

General reference texts (any modifications or details will be communicated via Moodle):

Garbini, Giovanni, and Olivier Durand. 1994. Introduzione alle lingue semitiche. Brescia: Paideia.
Huehnergard, John, and Na’ama Pat-El, eds. 2019. The Semitic Languages. Second edition. Routledge Language Family Series. London; New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. (Selected pages to be indicated via Moodle)
Weninger, Stefan, ed. 2011. The Semitic Languages: An International Handbook. 2nd ed. Handbücher Zur Sprach- Und Kommunikationswissenschaft, The Semitic Languages: An International Handbook. Berlin ; Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. (Selected pages to be indicated via Moodle)

The exam will consist of an oral assessment based on the content outlined in the bibliography provided in the syllabus and on Moodle.

oral

Grades will be assigned according to the following criteria:
A. grades in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of: Sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
B. grades in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of: Fair knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
C. grades in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of: Good or excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
D. grades will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program.

Lectures, group discussions.