Slavic 864

Comparative Slavic Linguistics

Autumn 2003

Instructor: Daniel E. Collins Baker Systems 272, WF 12:30-2:18

Office: 232 Cunz Telephone: 292-6733

Office Hours: T 9:30-12:00 and by appointment email: collins.232@osu.edu

Course Objectives

In Slavic 864 we will thoroughly examine the prehistory and early history of the Slavic languages, with an emphasis on sound changes. We will begin by discussing the main methodologies for reconstruction and the (pre)history of the Slavs up to the time of the earliest texts (Week 1). We will then look in detail at the sound changes that differentiated Slavic from other Indo-European dialects and led to the phonological systems attested in the earliest Slavic texts (Weeks 2-6). After discussing the challenging topic of accentology, we will turn to the morphological system, with an emphasis on how it differs from those of other Indo-European dialects, and trace its development into the attested stages. Time permitting, we will close out the quarter with readings in early Slavic texts and/or other special problems.

The topics covered in Slavic 864 are a standard part of our professional knowledge as Slavic linguists. The knowledge you acquire will help you better to understand the systematic differences between the Slavic languages, the subsequent history of the languages, seemingly bizarre alternations in the languages, and relationships between words. In addition to this knowledge, you will practice some important skills: weighing evidence; speaking about scholarly problems; and giving presentations on scholarly topics in front of your peers.

Readings

I will make all of the required readings available in the coursepacket or as handouts. There is no textbook; however, I strongly recommend the following references:

Bernstejn, S. B. 1961-74. Ocerk sravnitel'noj grammatiki slavjanskix jazykov. 2vv. Moscow.

Birnbaum, Henrik. 1975. Common Slavic: Progress and Problems in its Reconstruction. Cambridge, Massachusetts. [Russian translation available.]

Birnbaum, Henrik, and Peter T. Merrill. 1985. Recent Advances in the Reconstruction of Common Slavic (1971-1982). Columbus.

Dvornik, Francis. 1956. The Slavs: Their Early History and Civilization. Boston.

Dybo, V. A., G. I. Zamjatina, and S. L. Nikolaev. 1990. Osnovy slavjanskoj akcentologii. Moscow.

Horálek, K. 1992. An Introduction to the Study of the Slavonic Languages. Trans. Paul Herrity. 2vv. Nottingham. [Czech original.]

Kuznecov, P. 1961. Ocerk po morfologii praslavjanskogo jazyka. Moscow.

Lehmann, W. P. 1993. Theoretical Bases of Indo-European Linguistics. New York.

Meillet, A. 1934. Le slave commun. 2nd ed. Paris. [Russian translation available.]

Schenker, A. M. 1995. The Dawn of Slavic. New Haven.

Shevelov, G. Y. 1965. A Prehistory of Slavic. Heidelberg.

Stang, Christian. 1965. Slavonic Accentuation. 2nd ed. Oslo.

Szemerenyi, O. 1996. Introduction to Indo-European Linguistics. 4th ed. Oxford. [German original.]

Professional Requirements

1. Attendance: Unexcused absences are not permitted. If you believe you a legitimate reason for being absent, you must get my permission in advance. If you are sick, please call the office, and be prepared to show me a doctor's note. Each unexcused absences will result in a 7.5-point deduction from the final grade.

2. Punctuality: Our professional ethics demand that we make the effort to be on time. Class ordinarily starts at the bell. Habitual tardiness disrupts your learning and disturbs the other students; moreover, it is disrespectful to the instructor and signals that you do not care about the class. Late students may get a talking to. Seriously late students (arriving five minutes or more after class has begun) will be penalized 2.5 points for each five-minute interval they are late.

Graded Work (subject to change with due notice)

1. Participation, effort, and professionalism: 25%. You are expected to come to class each day with the readings prepared; you must be ready not just to listen to me but to contribute yourself by asking and answering questions, making observations, and solving problems posed in class. This class is a group effort, so it is essential for you to have a cooperative, collegial attitude.

2. Problem sets: 30%. Phonological reconstructions. You may use written reference sources, provided you cite them appropriately. Your answers should be written (preferably typed); you should explain your reasoning thoroughly in complete sentences. The problem sets will be graded on accuracy, completeness, and insightfulness.

a. Problem set #1: handed out on 10/1; due 10/10.

b. Problem set #2: handed out on 10/15; due 10/24.

3. In-class presentations: 45%. Each student will be assigned a different topic within the theme of the day. Your reports should be no more than ten minutes; you should provide a handout with illustrative examples. You may use written reference sources, provided you cite them appropriately. Be prepared to answer questions.

a. The fate of phonological diagnostics in the individual Slavic languages: each student will trace one feature through the different languages. Handed out on 10/24; presented 11/5.

b. The fate of inflectional categories in the individual Slavic languages: each student will trace on category through the different languages. Handed out on 11/15; presented 11/19.

c. An article on some problem in the history or prehistory of Slavic. I can choose the article for you, or you can propose one in which you are particularly interested. Presented during finals week at a time to be negotiated.

Grading Scale

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:
93–100	A	80–82	B–	68–69	D+
90–92	A–	78–79	C+	65–67	D
88–89	B+	73–77	C	0-65	E
83–87	B	70–72	C–

Schedule of Topics (subject to change with due notice)

Week 1 Reading: Schenker, Dawn 1-74

9/24 Survey of the Slavic languages; methods for determining relatedness

9/26 Types of changes; the Slavs in prehistory; Balto-Slavic

Week 2 Reading: Unit 1

10/1 Phonological system of PIE; laryngeals

10/3 Palatovelars and Gutteralwechsel

Reading: Appropriate topics in the course packet

Week 3 Reading: Unit 2

10/8 The RUKI change

10/10 Syllabic sonorants; ablaut; simplification of consonant clusters

• Problem set #1 due

Week 4 Reading: Unit 3

10/15 First palatalization of velars; vowel fronting

10/17 Monophthongization of nasal and glide diphthongs

Week 5 Reading: Unit 4

10/22 Second and third palatalization of velars

10/24 Prothesis; dejotation/dental palatalization

• Problem set #2 due

Week 6 Reading: Unit 5

10/29 Late Common Slavic developments

10/31 Liquid diphthongs

Week 7 Reading: Unit 6

11/5 • In-class reports on the fate of phonological diagnostics

11/7 Reconstruction of Common Slavic accent paradigms

Week 8 Reading: Unit 7

11/12 The fate of the Slavic accentual system

11/14 Morphology

Week 9 Reading: To be assigned

11/19 • In-class reports on the fate of inflectional categories

11/21 Lecture by Henning Andersen

Week 10 Reading: To be assigned

11/26 "Northeastern Slavic": The language of the birchbark letters

Week 11 Reading: To be assigned

12/3 Early Slavic texts

12/5 Reconstructing prehistoric dialects

Week 12 • Student presentations on articles