Words & Lang 11

Provisional Marks Release

  • Official release date for provisional marks: 23rd January.

  • This module spans the entire year; therefore, aggregate scores cannot yet be calculated since three assessment components remain in semester two.

Assessment Visibility

  • On 23rd January, students will have access to:

    • MCQ test scores from semester 1.

    • Midterm scores.

    • Final test scores from the first half of the semester.

  • It is noted that navigating Canvas may be challenging, but all three marks should be visible for module 6 1 or 4.

  • The aggregate mark for the entire module will be calculated as a percentage from a total of 6 marks (2 MCQs, 2 midterms, and 2 final assessments).

Upcoming Semester Structure

  • Total of 12 weeks of teaching planned; includes a reading week in February.

  • Focus switches from spoken language to written language:

    • First half: Overview of writing development from ancient Egypt up to the printing press in the 15th century.

    • Second half: Detailed study involving assessment tests and specific topics in philology.

Lecture Schedule

  • Introduction to writing development will take place in four lectures.

  • MCT test will likely occur around the 7th week, summarizing the first half's content.

  • The second set of lectures will concentrate on the history of philology:

    • Ancient Greece and Rome, Middle Ages, Renaissance, and modern academic philology (17th-19th centuries).

    • Topics like textual criticism and developments in the 20th and 21st centuries will also be covered.

Definitions and Ideas

  • Philology: Defined as the intersection of literary criticism, history, and linguistics, focusing on the study of literary texts and oral/written records.

    • A philologist studies and comments on texts, understanding their authenticity and meaning.

  • Theology: Described as a method for studying texts where multiple perspectives and methodologies apply; it emphasizes slow, careful reading.

Textual Analysis in Philology

  • Philology is not just a single discipline but a collection of methodologies.

  • Important to define terms when discussing topics, as definitions shape understanding.

  • Wikipedia vs. Oxford Dictionary: Definitions might vary and evolve over time.

Types of Writing Systems

  • Writing systems can be categorized into:

    • Pictograms: Represent real-world objects.

    • Ideograms: Represent abstract ideas.

    • Logograms: Symbols representing words rather than sounds.

    • Phonograms: Represent sounds, typically the latest writing system.

Historical Context of Writing

  • Writing transformed spoken language into a tangible form, preserving thoughts beyond the immediate moment.

  • The relationship between speech, writing, and historical context is crucial for understanding texts.

Philological Study Example

  • Using the Aeneid for a philological study involves:

    • Linguistic analysis of words and historical contexts of texts.

    • Textual criticism to establish authenticity and correct versions of texts through centuries of manuscript copies.

Conclusion and Future Learning

  • The study of philology will evolve with technological innovations.

  • Next lecture will begin discussing the history of writing, focusing on formative civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt.