SEMITIC PHILOLOGY

The course has as its objective the introduction to the varied linguistic complexity of the semitic Near East. Furthermore, it will offer a basic approach to a new semitic language, biblical hebrew.

Therefore, students will be able to place the main semitic languages in time and space; explain orally the knowledge gained on the semitic languages in their general peculiarity; read and analyze simple hebrew texts from the Bible shown during classes, interpret and analyze them.

The first part of the course offers a general introduction to the study of semitic languages through their formation and their chronological development, and also through their historical and geographical diffusion. The Analysis of the fundamentals of comparative semitic linguistics and the problems about the linguistic classification will be investigated through the writing systems, phonology, morphology and syntax.

The second part of the course will focus on the analysis of biblical texts in hebrew. Introduction to the Study of Biblical Hebrew: basic elements of phonology, morphology and syntax.

General section:

• Garbini G. - Durand O. (1994), Introduzione alle lingue semitiche, Brescia.
• Hadas-Lebel M. (1994), Storia della lingua ebraica, Firenze.

Hebrew grammar:

• Staehli H-P. - Chiesa B. (1986), Grammatica ebraica, Brescia.

Original language texts:

Selection of hebrew texts chosen by the teacher.

Integration for non-attending students:

• Cesarini Martinelli L. (1984), La filologia, Roma.

and a second text to be chosen among:

• Bergsträsser G. (1995), Introduction to the Semitic Languages, (translation of the German edition of 1928, notes, bibliography and appendix by P.T. Daniels), Winona Lake: pp. 38-41, 67-68, 97-98, 132- 133.
• Daniels P.T. (1997), ‘Scripts of Semitic Languages’, in Hetzron R. (ed.), The Semitic Languages, London-New York; 16-45.
• Haelewyck J-C. (2006), Grammaire comparée des langues sémitiques, Bruxelles (parte 2, oppure 3 oppure 4: da concordare con il docente).
• Huehnergard J. - Rubin A.D. (2011), ‘Phyla and Waves: Models of Classification of the Semitic Languages’, in S. Weninger (ed.), The Semitic Languages: An International Handbook, Berlin-Boston 2011; 259-278.
• Moscati S. (1959), Lezioni di linguistica semitica, Roma; 1-21.
• Moscati S. (a c., 1964), An Introduction to the comparative grammar of the Semitic languages: phonology and morphology, Wiesbaden (parti scelte da concordare con il docente).