History of the Baltic languages 3020-BB1HJB
A course giving a brief overview of the external history of the Baltic languages. Historical grammar is presented in a very elementary and succinct way, but the external history is discussed in more detail, taking into account the political, social and cultural context in which the Baltic languages evolved. The course successively covers such subjects as the prehistory of Lithuanian and Latvian, the Old Prussian, Old Lithuanian and Old Latvian texts and their value for linguistics, and the gradual process of formation and codification of what is now Standard Lithuanian and Standard Latvian. The role of individual writers and philologists in the development of the language is also discussed.
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student:
(KNOWLEDGE)
- understands the basic aims, assumptions and methods of historical linguistics;
- is aware of the specific features of the development of the Baltic languages as compared with other European languages;
- characterizes the successive periods in the attested history of Lithuanian and Latvian with regard to external history;
(SKILLS)
- reads short and uncomplicated Old Prussian, Old Lithuanian and Old Latvian texts if provided with explanatory notes;
- describes the role of individual writers and philologists in the development of the Baltic languages;
(AWARENESS)
- realizes the importance of the historical study of language for a thorough understanding of the present-day language.
Assessment criteria
Written examination, to which the student is admitted on condition of obtaining the term credit on the basis of attendance, participation in classes and submitting the term paper.
Practical placement
None.
Bibliography
1. P. U. Dini: Foundations of Baltic Languages. Vilnius 2014.
2. A. Ozols: Veclatviešu rakstu valoda. Ryga 1965.
3. V. Rinkevičius: Prūsistikos pagrindai. Vilnius. 2015
4. W. Smoczyński: Języki bałtyckie: litewski, łotewski, staropruski. In: L. Bednarczuk (ed.): Języki indoeuropejskie. Vol. 2: 817-905. Warszawa 1988.
5. Z. Zinkevičius: History of the Lithuanian Language. Vilnius 1998.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: