From Baghdad to the European Union: cultures, languages, and peoples in the pre-modern/modern times – ZIP

Remote learning

The course traces the history of Slavic cultures, languages, and peoples from antiquity through the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth up to the beginnings of the European Union. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of the interactions of different parts of the Slavic world with each other and with non-Slavic neighbors. Throughout the course a variety of primary and secondary sources generated, in particular, by the Arab-Muslim, Byzantine, and Medieval German authors is consulted. The vagaries of the formation of standard languages, including Standard Average European, are explored.

Readings will provided by the instructor

"This course is offered within the University of Warsaw Integrated Development Programme, co-financed from the European Social Fund under the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development 2014-2020, path 3.5.

TOPICS AND READING SCHEDULE

May 9

Cluster 1: Out of the Woods

Topics:

a) Introduction

b) On “Rusьkymi Pismeny” in the Life of Constantine

c) The Revelation of the Arab Geographers

May 16

Cluster 2: The Beginnings of Literary Culture: Poland-Lithuania-Ruthenia vs. Muscovy

Topics:

a) The “Foolish” Rus’

b) What's in the name? языкъ Рускїй, Славєнскїй, Славєнорωссійскїй

c) Standard Russian vs. Literary Ukrainian

May 23

Cluster 3: The Bible and the (East) Slavs

Topics:

a) The Bible and the formation of literary Ukrainian

b) Pantelejmon Kulish and translations of the Bible

c) Variants of Literary Ukrainian: the Rusyn Controversy

May 30/June 6

Cluster 4: Linguistic Hybrids and Language Policies

Topics:

a) Linguistic Russification: Models and Policies

b) Surzhyk and other hybrids

c) Standard Average European

Readings will provided by the instructor.

As regards specialty learning outcomes, after the course:

1) one has profound and structured knowledge comprising methods, theories, terminology in relation to the literature and language in the context of other liberal studies (K2_W02; reference to P7S_WG The range and depth);

2) is able to gain knowledge and develop research skills on his/her own, to undertake activities aimed at developing academic and professional competence as a literary critic and a critic of other arts (K2_U01; reference to P7S_UW exploiting knowledge / problems resolved and tasks performed);

3) can carry out a critical analysis and interpretation of different types of cultural works, implement different approaches, has regard to new achievements of liberal arts, can introduce and justify his/her own position in different ways (K2_U05; reference to P7S_UW exploiting knowledge / problems resolved and tasks performed);

4) is ready to participate actively and consciously in international scientific, linguistic, artist and cultural exchange (K2_K01, reference to P7S_KO);

5) is ready for the active involvement in the social and cultural life, employing the knowledge of the relations between different fields of art; to recognize values contained in cultural diversity delivered by literature and art. (K2_K05, reference to P7S_KO).

Credit mark is based on the attendance, active participation in the class, homework and translation of selected passages of texts.

The final mark comprises the following elements:

Active and substantive participation in the class (50%).

Performing the task (essay) - 50%

Grading system:

99 – 100% - 5 (excellent)

93 - 98% - 5 (very good)

87 - 92% - 4,5 (fairly good)

77 - 86% - 4 (good)

71 - 76% - 3,5 (satisfactory plus)

60 - 70% - 3 (satisfactory)