Slavic 862

History of the West Slavic Languages

Class Meetings: W 3:30-5:18, F 1:30-3:18, 232 Cunz

Instructor: Daniel E. Collins collins.232@osu.edu

232 Cunz 292-6733

Office Hours: T 9:30-12:30 or by appointment

Objectives

This course is intended to address the history and structure of the seven West Slavic languages-Czech, Slovak, Upper and Lower Sorbian, Polish, Kashubian/Slovincian, and Polabian. In addition, it is intended to demonstrate different methodological and theoretical issues in (Slavic) Linguistics in general. We shall discuss writing systems, phonology, morphology, and dialectology, as well as special topics in morphosyntax, syntax, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics. We shall apply what we have learned through close readings of West Slavic texts, which illustrate the evolution of the languages and their features in actual contexts.

Requirements

The class will be conducted as a seminar in the true sense of the word-a course team-taught by the entire class, instructor included. Each student will make six presentations on readings in the course of the eleven weeks of the quarter.

Participation 25 points

a. Attendance is mandatory. If you need to miss class for some legitimate reason, please notify me, in advance if possible. Each unexcused absence will result in a 5-point deduction.

b. Preparation: in order for the seminar format to be successful, you must be prepared to discuss each core reading thoughtfully and insightfully.

c. Effort: in order for the seminar format to be successful, you must be attentive to in-class presentations and participate thoughtfully in discussions.

d. Homeworks: Occasionally I shall ask you to try to work out a problem or prepare a close reading in anticipation of the next meeting. These homework assignments will be checked but not assigned a letter grade.

Presentations 50 points

In consultation with me, choose five articles of interest from the pool of "mini-seminars" (see "Topics," below) and prepare 20-minute presentations on them. Ideally, several students will select articles from the same pools. The presentations, which must include handouts, should discuss both the West Slavic data and the wider theoretical implications of the topic. Presentations will be held strictly to the time limit; discussion will follow.

Final presentation 25 points

In consultation with me, choose one topic of interest (see "Topics for Final Presentation," below) and prepare a no more than 25-minute presentation on at least three of the articles or chapters. The presentation, which must include a handout, should discuss the West Slavic data and the wider theoretical implications of the topic. Ideally, the presentations should include some applications in authentic texts. Presentations will be held strictly to the time limit; there will be a five minute discussion period after each presentation.

Date of final presentations: TBA, towards the end of finals week.

Topics

(Subject to change with due notice)

I. Course introduction

Introduction to the West Slavic languages

Formation of the West Slavic "branch"

II. West Slavic writing systems and their relation to phonology

Core reading:Comrie and Corbett introductions and sections on phonology; articles from Schenker and Stankiewicz

III. Diachronic phonology

A. General

Core reading: Handouts; Andersen 1973

Suggested: Andersen 1969a, 1969b, Krajc ˚ovic ˚ 1975, Schaarschmidt 1998, Stieber 1973, Topolin åska 1974

Possible mini-seminar: Jers

Andersen 1970, Greenberg 1988, Polan åski 1982, Schaarschmidt 1993, Timberlake 1988

B. Prosodic developments

Core reading: Timberlake 1983a

Suggested: Timberlake 1983b

C. Changes in vowel systems

Core reading: Andersen 1978, Labov 1994: 115-54

Suggested: Schaarschmidt 1992

Possible mini-seminar: Polish nasal vowels

Agman 1998, Andersen 1972, Bethin 1968, Brooks 1968, Feldstein 1983, Rubach 1977

IV. Dialectology

Core reading: Comrie and Corbett on dialectology; Timberlake 1978; handouts

Suggested: Go ¬a ∫b 1974, Schaarschmidt 1988

V. Morphology

Core reading: Comrie and Corbett on morphology; Andersen 1987, Janda 1993

Suggested: Cummins 1988, Kuc ˚era1952, Rubenstein 1951, Schenker 1954, 1964, Stankiewicz 1955, Townsend 1994

VI. Gender

Core reading: Corbett 1983, 1988, Janda 1999, Rothstein 1980

Possible mini-seminar: Gender in Polish

Brooks/Nalibow 1970, Brown 1998, Kryk-Kastovsky 2000, Lehec ˚ková 2000, Miemitz 1997

VII. Case

Core reading: Bacz 1996/97, Dancygier 1997, Wierzbicka 1988

Possible mini-seminar: Datives

Bacz 1992, Rudzka-Ostyn 1996, Wierzbicka 1986

VIII. Syntax

Core reading: Comrie and Corbett on syntax and lexis, Corbett 1987, Janda 1993

Possible mini-seminar: Agreement

Comrie 1975, Franks/Banski 1999, Stroin åska 1992

IX. Discourse analysis

Core reading: Cummins 1998, Firbas 1996

Possible mini-seminar: Information structure

Duszak 1990, Flashner 1987, Hajíc ˚ová 1995, Jacennik/Dryer 1992, Siewerska 1993, 1998

X. Sociolinguistics (focusing on gender linguistics)

Core reading: Christensen 1999, chapters from Jaworski 1986, Sonkova 1999

Possible mini-seminar: Czech sociolinguistics

Articles from Eckert, ed. 1993, Sgall 1986, Sonkova 1999, Townsend 1990

XI. Pragmatics (focusing on address in Polish)

Core reading: Jaworski 1992, Stone 1977, 1981, 1984

Possible mini-seminar: Speech acts

Kalisz 1993, Suszczyn åska 1999, Wierzbicka 1985

Topics for final presentations

If you prefer, you may select one of the mini-seminars not chosen in the course of the quarter.

Possible topic: Diphthongs

Andersen 1972, Feldstein 1994, Hammer 1994, Timberlake 1995

Possible topic: Accentology

Derksen 1988, Elson 1985, Galton 1983, chapters from Stankiewicz 1993

Possible topic: Syllables

Bethin 1992, Kenstowicz/Rubach 1987, chapters from Rubach 1993, Rubach 1996

Possible topic: 'be'

Elson 1977, Hannan 1993, Mikos å 1985

Possible topic: Instrumentals

Bacz 1994, 1996/1997, Kottum 1994, Rothstein 1986

Possible topic: Formal approaches to syntax

Chapters from Borsley/Przepiórkowski, eds. 1999, Lindseth 1994, McShane 1999, 2000, Toman 1998, Willim 1999

Possible topic: Language and identity

Chapters from Hannan 1996, Norberg 1994, Wierzbicka 1990