Admission requirements
There are no admission requirements, but knowledge of Germanic historical grammar will be helpful.
Description
This course is an introduction to Old High German, the oldest form of the German language (ca. 700 – ca. 1100). This language starts with glosses to Latin texts and interlinear versions of Latin texts that were used in the conversion to Christianity. But even examples of heathen (?) poetry and lore survived (‘Hildebrandslied’, ‘Wessobrunner Gebet’ [ca. 800] and charms). The main body of Old High German texts are translations of the gospels in prose (‘Tatian’) and verse (Otfrids ‘Evangelienharmonie’), the psalm translation by Notker [ca. 1000] and other important religious texts. Especially interesting is the enormous corpus of glosses. The texts will be discussed just as the position of Old High German within West Germanic (Second Sound Shift).
Course objectives
After this course, students will be able
to analyse the basics of Old High German grammar
to recognize dialectal aspects in combination with the Second Sound Shift
read Old High German texts with a glossary
interpret Old High German grammar in a synchronic and diachronic perspective
independently investigate a self-chosen problem of Old High German and report in writing
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Written examination with short open questions
Essay, paper
Weighing
The written examination counts for 70% and the paper counts for 30% of the final mark.
Resit
Students with a grade of 5.0 or lower for the written examination may take the resit. Students with a grade of 5.0 or lower may submit a revised version of the paper.
Inspection and feedback
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.
Reading list
B. Taeger (Hg.). Heliand. Studien¬ausgabe in Auswahl (ATB 95). Niemeyer, Tübingen 1984.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Not applicable.