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Classes meet together:
348-W (31070)
Middle Eastern Studies 320 (41070)
Linguistics 373 (40272)
European Studies 361 (34825)
History 366N (39025)
Asian Studies ANS 372 (29713)
Course Schedule
Additional Books on Reserve in PCL
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Course Description & Requirements (Syllabus)
Course Description:
Several centuries ago scholars hypothesized that there was once an Indo-European
people speaking a single language, and that this speech community
broke up before the dawn of history. The hypothesis is based on similarities among
languages such as Greek, Old Persian, Sanskrit, Latin, and Hittite as well as
language families such as Celtic, Germanic (including English), and Slavic.
Study of linguistic and cultural artifacts gives us insight into the early speakers, and
comparative-historical methods allow us to track the evolution of these languages
and cultures.
Required Texts (4 books):
1. AHD: Watkins, Calvert, ed. 2000. American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots. 2nd ed. Boston & NY: Houghton Mifflin.
An Appendix in an uptodate copy of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language will also have
the essential article by Calvert Watkins, "Indo-European and the Indo-Europeans", a chart of Indo-European sound correspondences,
and the appendix of Indo-European Roots, if in a less portable from than the Dictionary of Indo-European Roots).
2. Justus, Carol F. & Darien A. McWhirter. Fall 2005. Introducing the Indo-Europeans. Xeroxed Manuscript will be for sale at Jenn's Copy & Printing (Guadalupe & 21st Street):
Table of Contents online. NOTE: The Fall 2005 version revises that of Spring 2005.
Materials on the IE Documentation Center supplement the book manuscript.
3. Haywood, John. 2005. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations. (NY: ISBN 0-141-01448-2).
An indispensable collection of maps as well as outline information with illustrations; maps will be referred to.
4. One grammar of an older Indo-European language from among choices (Click here).
Recommended Readings (Click here).
No knowledge of an early language is required. Activities
will include reading and writing (about the Indo-Europeans and translations of selected myths &
epics, prayers, laws, treaties), linguistic exercises, and other problem-solving
activities related to language and culture. The writing component of is integral to this class
(see below).
Grading will be based on class participation (30%, including class reports, exercises, and
quizzes); three papers (50%); and a midterm (20%). Papers will be graded on both content and
the quality of writing and argumentation.
Paper 1 (1000 words: 10%): A report on material relating to comparative methods discussed in class;
the first paper should demonstrate an ability to summarize and reference sources correctly.
Paper 2 (1000 words: 10%): Description of a problem relating to the history of one speech community or to
comparison of more than one; the second paper should demonstrate comparative-historical
argumentation.
Paper 3 (2000 words: 30%): An argument for a solution to a comparative-historical problem. Separate activities
(a: Written outline of the argument and its solution = 5%; b: Presentation to the class = 5%)
will culminate in the final written paper (20%). Paper 3 could build on material from previous
papers, but it need not.
Conferences with the instructor will guide students' topic choice and approach.
Scholastic dishonesty on any graded assignment will result in automatic failure. Scholastic dishonesty includes any
type of cheating; if unsure about the exact definition you should consult the General Information catalogue, Appendix Section 11-802.
Scholastic Dishonesty.
Disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with
disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 or 471-4641, or the information online at
Dean of Students.
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