Guide in PDF format
Logo

The Origins of the Classical Languages

Code: 104220
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Ancient Studies OP 3
Ancient Studies OP 4
English and Classics Studies OP 3
English and Classics Studies OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Agustí Alemany Vilamajo
Email :
agusti.alemany@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This subject is complementary to 104216 Indo-European Languages and Peoples (mandatory for the Degree in Sciences of Antiquity), although it is not essential to have taken it previously.


It is advisable, but not essential, that students have a certain level of English and French, which allows them to access the bibliography in these languages.

Objectives

This subject is a continuation of the compulsory second year subject 104216 Indo-European Languages and Peoples, devoted basically to comparative phonology and a historical-cultural introduction to the Indo-European linguistic family.

Its contents aim to provide students with fundamental knowledge about the historical origins of the classical languages, combining the reading of some archaic monuments of Greek and Latin with a comparative approach to the nominal and verbal morphology of both languages from a diachronic point of view, taking also into account other languages of the Indo-European family, especially Sanskrit and Gothic/English.

Learning outcomes

  1. Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
  2. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  3. Preparing an oral and written discourse in the corresponding language in a proper and organized way.
  4. Compare linguistic features of Greek and Latin to draw conclusions about their common origins.
  5. Analysing various types of linguistic data.
  6. Solving complex problems of linguistic analysis in any level with the appropriate tools.
  7. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  8. Identify the main phonetic and morphological roots shared by Greek and Latin with the oldest form of English (Anglo-Saxon).
  9. Compare Greek, Latin, and English with other Indo-European languages, especially Germanic languages.
  10. Apply language reconstruction to the resolution of exercises on the phonetics and morphology of Indo-European languages.
  11. Interpret texts in Mycenaean and archaic Greek, archaic Latin and Anglo-Saxon.
  12. Relate the history and culture of ancient Indo-European civilisations on the basis of linguistic data.

Contents

I. Theoretical part


♦ Unit 1. Diachronic approach to Greek and Latin: from the historical languages to Proto-Greek and Italic.


♦ Unit 2. Notions of apophony and prehistory of the Indo-European phonological system.


♦ Unit 3. Comparative morphology of Greek and Latin (I): nouns and adjectives


♦ Unit 4. Comparative morphology of Greek and Latin (II): pronouns and numerals


♦ Unit 5. Comparative morphology of Greek and Latin (III): verbal system


II. Practical part


♦ Unit 1. Reading and analysis of archaic and dialectal monuments of the Greek language.


♦ Unit 2. Reading and analysis of archaic monuments of the Latin language and other Italic languages (esp. Oscan and Umbrian).

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral and written exercises 15 0.6 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
Development of subject contents 37.5 1.5 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Reading of bibliography 35 1.4 2, 7
Performing exercices 35 1.4 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11
Tutoring in small groups 4.5 0.18 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

The teaching methodology of this subject will consist in alternating the theoretical exposition of each of the aforementioned units with the readings of Archaic Greek and Italic monuments.

At the beginning of the course a dossier will be delivered with the theoretical and practical contents of the subject.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
2nd partial exam 30% 1.5 0.06 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Work 30% 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Class attendance and participation 20% 0 0 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
1st partial exam 20% 1.5 0.06 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

It is very important for the student to keep in mind that the assessment also includes regular class attendance and the completion and presentation of the exercises and the various activities proposed. A student who has submitted an activity that can be evaluated will not be able to give up being evaluated or choose to obtain a final grade of "Not Presented." In the final reassessment, the student will be able to recover the mark corresponding to the partial exams.

The delivery of the works, as well as the performance of the exams, are two essential requirements in order to be able to opt for the reevaluation.

The re-evaluation will consist of performing a test equivalent to the one performed and not passed.

Erasmus students who request to advance an exam must submit to the teacher a written document from their home university that justifies their application.

This subject does not incorporate unique assessment

Review of grades

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Not assessed

Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.

Resit assesment

To be eligible for the resit assessment, students must have been assessed in at least two-thirds of the total assessment.

Plagiarism

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place.

In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred cannot be retaken.

AI

This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as content-based searches explicitly authorised by the teachers.

The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.

Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

Bibliography

Beekes, Robert Stephen Paul [1995] Comparative Indo-European Linguistics. An Introduction. Amsterdam–Filadelfia: John Benjamins Publ. Co.

Brugmann, Karl–Delbrück, Berthold [1886-1916] Grundriß der vergleichenden Grammatik der indogermanischen Sprachen i-v. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter (reimp. 1967).

Buck, Carl Darling [1904] A Grammar of Oscan and Umbrian, with a Collection of Inscriptions and a Glossary. Boston-New York-Chicago: Ginn and Company.

Buck, Carl Darling [19552] The Greek Dialects. Grammar. Selected Inscriptions. Glossary. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Humbert, Jean [1972] Histoire de la langue grecque (Que sais-je? 1483). Paris: PUF.

Mallory, James Patrick–Adams, Douglas Q. (eds.) [2006] The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World. Oxford–New York: Oxford University Press.

Meier-Brügger, Michael [20028] Indogermanische Sprachwissenschaft. Berlin-New York: Walter de Gruyter (trad. inglesa [2003] Indo-European Linguistics. Berlin-New York: Walter de Gruyter).

Meillet, Antoine [19303] Aperçu d’une histoire de la langue grecque. Paris: Hachette.

Meillet, Antoine [19333] Esquisse d’une histoire de la langue latine. Paris: Hachette (trad. cast. [1973] Historia de la lengua latina. Reus: Avesta).

Meillet, Antoine [19378] Introduction à l’étude comparative des langues indo-européennes. París: Hachette (reimp. Alabama: University Press 1964).

Meillet, Antoine–Vendryes, Joseph [19684] Traité de grammaire comparée des langues classiques. Paris: Honoré Champion.

Pisani, Vittore [19744] Grammatica latina storica e comparativa. Torino: Rosenberg & Seller.

Ramat, Anna Giacalone.–Ramat, Paolo (eds.) [1998] The Indo-European Languages. London-NY: Routledge (versión italiana original [1993] Le lingue indoeuropee. Bologna: Società Editrice Il Mulino; trad. cast. [1995] Las lenguas indoeuropeas. Madrid: Cátedra).

Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco [2005]. A History of the Greek Language. From its Origins to the Present. Leiden-Boston: Brill (original Spanish version [1999] Historia de la lengua griega. Madrid: Gredos).

Sihler, Andrew L. [1995] New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin. New York-Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Szemerényi, Oswald [19904] Einführung in die Vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (trad. ingl. [1996] Introduction to Indo-European Linguistics. Oxford: Clarendon Press; trad. castellana de 19701 [1978] Introducción a la lingüística comparativa. Madrid: Gredos).

Software

PDF, Power Point

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed