History of the Greek Language from Ancient Times to early Byzantine Times

<p>Explore the development of Greek from Classical Antiquity to the early Byzantine period. The course examines how the language evolved over time in relation to historical, cultural, and social transformations.</p><p>This course is intended for students who have completed at least 90 credits in Greek or the equivalent and who wish to deepen their understanding of the language from a historical and linguistic perspective. The course is compulsory within the Master’s Programme in Languages and Linguistics (Greek orientation) but may also be taken as an independent course. </p><p>This course provides an overview of the historical development of the Greek language from Classical Antiquity to the early Byzantine period.</p><p>You study how key aspects of the language—such as sound systems, grammar, vocabulary, and text structures—evolved over time and how these changes are connected to broader historical processes. </p><p>Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between language change and societal change. You explore how historical events influenced linguistic developments and how new forms of expression emerged in different periods. The course also introduces the sociolinguistic phenomenon of polyglossia, focusing on how different varieties of Greek coexisted and interacted in both spoken and written contexts. </p><p>You work with primary texts spanning from early Greek to Byzantine prose, alongside secondary literature, including historical overviews and scholarly articles. Through these materials, you develop skills in analysing vocabulary, grammar, and textual features from a historical perspective. </p>