History of the Portuguese Language - 2nd semester
Code
711131056
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Maria Teresa Brocardo
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To identify Portuguese distinctive features and to relate them with linguistic changes occurred throughout its history.
b) To characterize the Portuguese language, according to some of its distinctive features, in contrast with other Romance languages.
c) To describe the crucial changes responsible for the differentiation of Portuguese within both more broad - Romance - and more restricted - Hispano-Romance - linguistic areas.
d) To relate the main linguistic changes of Portuguese history with different types of conditioning factors.
e) To acquire basic competences for the analysis of different types of texts, from distinct periods, aiming at their exploration as sources for language history.
f) To relate some of the traits of Contemporary Portuguese variation to aspects of language history.
g) To be acquainted with interpretative proposals on Portuguese history (periodization, relevance of non linguistic conditioning factors, among others).
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
i. From Latin to Portuguese
From Latin to the Romance languages – continuity and divergence. Pan-Romance changes vs. (more or less) specific paths. Linguistic changes and nonlinguistic conditioning factors – Portuguese decisive differentiation.
ii. The emergence of Portuguese writing
Language vs. ´scripta´ emergence. The transition from Latin to Portuguese writing.
The most ancient Portuguese written records.
iii. Medieval Portuguese
Linguistic analysis of extant written records (13th to 15th centuries). Identification of Old Portuguese distinctive features. Linguistic changes concluded or in progress during the 15th century.
Periodization topics.
iv. Contemporary Portuguese from a historical perspective.
European Portuguese dialects as consequences of divergent changes (Classical and Modern Portuguese periods).
Unity and variation of Contemporary Portuguese – varieties and norms; unilingual and multilingual communities.
Brazilian Portuguese from a historical perspective.
Bibliography
Alkire, T. & C. Rosen, 2010. Romance languages. A historical introduction. Cambridge: CUP
Brocardo, M. T. , 2014. Tópicos de história da língua portuguesa. Lisboa: Colibri
Harris, M. & N. Vincent, (eds.). 1988. The Romance Languages. London: Routledge
Herman, J., 2000. Vulgar Latin. University Park – Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press
Maiden, M.; J. C. Smith & A. Ledgeway (eds), 2010. The Cambridge History of The Romance Languages. Vol. I Structures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Mattos e Silva, R. V. 2008. O português arcaico. Uma aproximação. 2 Vols. Lisboa: IN-CM
Roberts, I. & M. A. Kato, (eds.) 1996. Português brasileiro: uma viagem diacrônica. Homenagem a Fernando Tarallo. Campinas: Editora da UNICAMP
Williams, E. B., 1975. Do latim ao português. Fonologia e morfologia históricas da língua portuguesa (3ªed., trad. port.). Rio de Janeiro: Tempo Brasileiro
Teaching method
Teaching methods
Class sessions include both theoretical and practical approaches. Regular attendance is strongly advised as well as the development of autonomous work. Class sessions include extensive presentation of course topics, explanation of examples, analysis and linguistic comment of text sources, exercises.
Evaluation method
2 written tests (50%+50%).