160011 SE Seminar to Indo-European Grammar (2013W)
Phylogentics and The "Homeland" question
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Attendence of the first lesson is compulsory (assignment of class papers).
Details
Language: German
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Friday 04.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 18.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 15.11. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 29.11. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 13.12. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 10.01. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
- Friday 24.01. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum 2 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
The modeling of language change has become an increasingly popular field of inquiry for researchers primarily working in the fields of mathematics, evolutionary biology and computer science. However, their claims and assumptions about language and language change, esp. with respect to the branching of the IE languages, clash dramatically with the results of historical linguistics and comparative philology. The purpose of this seminar is to critically review the methods and results of computational phylogenetics and to showcase the abiding need for historical linguistics and comparative philology in modelling language change and evolution. It will address the central issues concerning the nature of language change and the question of the PIE “Urheimat” and branching of the various IE languages.
Assessment and permitted materials
Compulsory attendence (exception: authorized absence after contacting the lecturer); presentation of a class paper.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Examination topics
Class papers and discussion.
Reading list
Anthony, David W.: The horse, the wheel, and language. How Bronze-age riders from the Eurasian steppes shaped the modern world, Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press, 2007.Anthony, David W. 2013. “Two IE phylogenies, three PIE migrations, and four kinds of steppe pastoralism.” Proceedings of the International Conference in Memory of Nikolai Merpert: Round Table “Indo-European Homeland and Migrations: Linguistics, Archeology and DNA”, Moscow, 12 September, 2012. In: Journal of Language Relationship. International Scientific Periodical 9, 1-21.Atkinson, Quentin D. 2011. “Phonemic Diversity Supports a Serial Founder Effect Model of Language Expansion from Africa.” Science 15 April 2011: 346-349.Bouchard-Côté, Alexandre et al. 2012. “Automated reconstruction of ancient languages using probabilistic models of sound change.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 10.1073/pnas.1204678110Bouckaert, Remco et al. 2012. “Mapping the Origins and Expansion of the Indo-European Language Family.” Science 25 May 2012: 1049-1054Mallory, James P.: In Search of the Indo-Europeans. Language, Archaeology and Myth, London: Thames und Hudson, 1989, 1991, 1997.
Association in the course directory
Master Indogermanistik und historische Sprachwissenschaft: MA4-M3
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:35