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GK4131   Diversity and Transformations: The Greek Language from the Hellenistic to the Early Modern Period

Academic year(s): 2023-2024

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: The module is limited to students who have completed the GK/Classics subhonours modules (or equivalent) and qualify for GK Hons modules.

Planned timetable: To be confirmed

This module is designed to reframe our idea of ‘ancient Greek’. ‘Ancient Greek’ is too often still identified with ‘classical Greek’ and taught almost exclusively on the basis of literary texts. But there is more to a language than the literature written in it! This module puts the ancient Greek centre-stage as it was spoken and ‘lived’ in every-day life. Inscriptions, private letters on papyri, graffiti, popular philosophical texts (Epictetus), early Christian narratives and early-medieval novels deliberately adopting the style of spoken (‘vernacular’), rather than literary Greek, afford us fascinating insight into how Greek developed and was used beyond literature. In the process, we will cover a period ranging from the 2nd century BCE to 14th century CE, when Greek is already transforming into ‘modern’ Greek. The module thus offers a broader and more diverse vision of the Greek language and puts the ‘ancient Greek’ you know from literature modules into a broader perspective.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 seminars (x11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 22

Guided independent study hours: 272

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 60% coursework, 40% written examination


Re-assessment: 100% written examination

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr N Wiater
Module teaching staff: Dr Nicolas Wiater
Module coordinator email nw23@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

  • identify and describe key features of ancient Greek and its development from the Hellenistic to the Medieval Period
  • understand and describe linguistic diversity through the example of ancient Greek and its development
  • analyse and discuss different ways in which languages are shaped by cultural influences
  • analyse and discuss political and cultural implications of language use
  • analyse and discuss Greek texts of a wide range of different genres and linguistic make-up