Language

This series of modules introduces you to the vocabulary and grammar of Old Norse, preparing you to read medieval sagas, eddic poetry, and even Viking-Age runic inscriptions. Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Old Norse will communicate with our Director and Professor Anderson to choose the right placement for everyone. [show less]

In this module, we will take a guided journey through the first book of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, one of the most influential works of classical literature. Designed for those with at least a basic knowledge of Latin, the module invites you to read the original text closely, exploring its grammar, metrics, and storytelling. Sessions will run like a collaborative reading group: you will prepare sections of the text in advance using a specially prepared student edition, then we will work through the passages together—pausing to address questions, clarify difficult points, and follow areas of interest raised by participants. Along the way, we will consider why Ovid’s epic of transformations has captivated readers for centuries, inspiring countless works of art, literature, and philosophy. Whether you are drawn to its mythological richness, its poetic artistry, or simply the joy of reading Latin in community, this module offers both structure and freedom to deepen your appreciation of Ovid’s masterpiece. Session 1: Creation (Lines 1-88) Session 2: The Golden, Silver, Bronze, Iron Ages; the Giants; Jupiter threatens to destroy the world (Lines 89-198) Session 3: Lycaon; The Great Flood (Lines 199-292) Session 4: The Drowned World; Deucalion & Pyrrha (Lines 293-380) Session 5: Recreation of the world; Python; Daphne and Apollo (beginning) (Lines 381-472) Session 6: Daphne & Apollo (cont); Inachus mounts for Io (473-587) Session 7: Io (588-688) Session 8: Syrinx, Io returned to human form; Phaeton (689-779) [show less]

This course introduces the basics of Middle English language and literature, including grammar, syntax, and pronunciation. Designed for students new to reading Middle English texts in their original form, the course focuses mainly on the English of London and the south of England in the thirteenth through fifteenth centuries—the language of Chaucer, Gower, Langland and others. As a language-learning course as well as a literature course, the first half of each meeting will be devoted to reading Middle English aloud and answering questions about pronunciation and comprehension; the second half will focus on the reading’s content, from basics of plot and conventions of genre to the historical context of each text. Course readings include: a selection of lyric poetry, two short poems by Chaucer, the chivalric romance Sir Orfeo, the Chester play of Noah’s Flood, a chronicle of the reign of King Henry V, Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe, and selections from the first English autobiography by a woman, The Book of Margery Kemp. [show less]

This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Greek texts available for intermediate-level study. Each month, Dr. Larry Swain surveys the group to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Stump the Swain: Easy Classical Greek Readings • Easy Koine Greek Readings • Advanced Greek Readings: Gospel of Matthew • Advanced Greek Readings: Gospel of John Series • Advanced Greek Readings: Paul's Letter to the Galatians Note: Please refer to the Required Texts section on a month's iteration page to see which texts the group has decided upon for a given month. [show less]

This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Latin texts available for intermediate-level study . Each month, our preceptors survey the group using the Intermediate Latin Series survey form to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Latin: The Vulgate Gospel of Matthew • Latin: Plautus' Miles Gloriosus (the Braggart Soldier) • Latin: Augustine's Confessions • Intermediate Latin Readings: Catullus • Intermediate Latin Readings: The Vulgate Bible 1 • Intermediate Latin Readings: The Vulgate Hester • Intermediate Latin Readings: Caesar’s Gallic Wars • Intermediate Latin Readings: Martial’s Epigrammata • Intermediate Latin Readings: Gesta Romanorum • Intermediate Latin Readings: Horace • Advanced Latin Readings: Cicero's Pro Archia Oration • Advanced Latin Readings: Aesop's Fables • Advanced Latin Readings: Hobbitus Ille • Advanced Latin Readings: Silius Italicus' 'Punica' • Advanced Latin Readings: Vergil's Aeneid in a Year Note: Please refer to the Required Texts section on a month's iteration page to see which texts the group has decided upon for a given month. [show less]

This module, which builds on the skills taught in the previous Middle High German Modules, looks at another representative of the Medieval German so-called Spielmannsdichtung (pseudo-minstrel tales). It tells the story of the Duke Ernest, who after unsuccessfully waging an assassination attempt and civil war against his misled step-father (and Holy Roman Emperor) flees to the Far East as a crusader, encountering mythical creatures and far-off places reminiscent to anyone who has read the Old English Wonders of the East. We will follow the methods used in other Middle High German modules and look at the Herzog Ernst poem both as literature and as a chance for interested students to continue perfecting their Middle High German reading skills. We will read selections of the text in the original language and translate them into English. Since it’s not entirely feasible to assume that everyone has access to a modern English translation, we will primarily discuss the translated sections, although a summary of the poem in general will be given. Questions discussed in the module will include questions of genre (as always) and the connection between the frame story and the second narrative, monsters and the bridal-quest, the medieval political philosophy and the HRE (Holy Roman Empire), crusade poetry, and more. The language of Herzog Ernst is roughly equivalent to the language of the Nibelungenlied, so completion of the Middle High German 1 and 2 modules are strongly encouraged. If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to contact Dr. Schendel. [show less]

In 2024, Oxford University Press published An Introduction to Middle High German, which promises to become the new standard textbook for learning Middle High German. It has a selection of readings, both prose and poetry, all of which are edited for readability and annotated for instruction. Due to popular demand, we at Signum University’s SPACE program are offering a month of just perusing the Introduction textbook and reading the prose as a group. We will begin with the introductory text “Von den siben planêten” by Berthold von Regensburg before moving on to the religious literature at the end of the book. Time permitting, we will also look at legal texts in the larger Oxford Guide to Middle High German, which will be supplied as scans according to the Fair Use doctrine. These readings will offer a chance to focus on the language’s syntax when it is not as heavily constrained by the demands of meter and rhyme. This course is open to both veterans and newcomers to SPACE’s small, but growing Middle High German program. [show less]

In 2024, Oxford University Press published An Introduction to Middle High German, which promises to become the new standard textbook for learning Middle High German. It has a selection of readings, both prose and poetry, all of which are edited for readability and annotated for instruction. Due to popular demand, we at Signum University’s SPACE program are offering a month of just perusing the Introduction textbook and reading the prose as a group. We will begin with the introductory text “Von den siben planêten” by Berthold von Regensburg before moving on to the religious literature at the end of the book. Time permitting, we will also look at legal texts in the larger Oxford Guide to Middle High German, which will be supplied as scans according to the Fair Use doctrine. These readings will offer a chance to focus on the language’s syntax when it is not as heavily constrained by the demands of meter and rhyme. This course is open to both veterans and newcomers to SPACE’s small, but growing Middle High German program. [show less]

The Dominican Johannes Tauler (ca. 1300-1361) counts as one of the most important representatives of Medieval German mysticism—so important, in fact, that some scholars consider him a predecessor to Martin Luther. That might be an oversimplification, but he stands among the giants of Middle High German literature and continues a literary tradition established by Mechthild von Regensburg and Meister Eckhart. His homilies, which begin with a Bible reading following the liturgical calendar, boast a powerful imagery. His calls to moral reform and self-reflection challenge the reader both spiritually and linguistically. With Dr. Schendel’s guidance, you can overcome your resignatio ad grammaticam and be better equipped to appreciate Tauler’s invocation of the resignatio ad infernum. As Tauler’s repertoire is huge, and we believe in Roman Jakobson’s definition of philology as “the art of reading slowly,” every iteration of this module focuses on a different selection of homilies, which the preceptor and the class choose together based on interest and language levels. This course is open to all veterans of SPACE’s growing Middle High German program. At least one module of previous MHG is highly recommended. [show less]

(Note: This module can be joined in any month. In addition, all class sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.) This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of Old Norse texts available for study. Each month, Dr. Anderson surveys the group using the Old Norse survey form to see which text students are most interested in exploring next. Some of the texts we could explore in a given month include: • Vǫlsunga Saga (“The Saga of the Vǫlsungs”) • The excerpted short texts in Jesse Byock’s Viking Language 2 (which can both be ordered from Amazon, etc.) • The other short but complete texts in Byock’s saga series: The Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck and/or Saga of the People of Weapon’s Fjord (which can both be ordered from Amazon, etc.) • Njáls saga. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) • Laxdœla saga. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) • Egil’s saga. (A free PDF of a good edition is available from the Viking Society.) • The Prose Edda, or portions thereof (Free PDFs are available from the Viking Society.) • Something from the legendary sagas (besides Vǫlsunga saga), e.g.: --- Hrólfs saga kraka. (There is a modernized Icelandic text online.) --- Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks (A free PDF of C. Tolkien’s edition/translation is available from the Viking Society.) --- Ragnars saga loðbrókar (Olsen’s 1908 edition is available as a PDF online.) • Something form the chivalric and/or Arthurian sagas (various texts online or in print). • Eddic poetry (various texts are available online). • Faroese ballads of the Vǫlsungs (not technically “Old Norse”, but the 19th-century editions are available online). But there are many other possibilities! [show less]

This series is designed for beginners of Spanish who have had very little or no previous contact with the language. The purpose of the course is to build up communication skills through interactive and dynamic sessions. The modules overview essential vocabulary, expressions, and grammar, but we’ll also take a look at cultural aspects such as celebrations, artists, music, and food. This is a progressive course: each module builds on the concepts studied in the previous one, so that, as the modules advance, other students with prior knowledge may join. Vamos a aprender español! [show less]

In an interactive language course, we will explore the grammar, culture, and vocabulary of the largest Scandinavian language spoken today. From Vikings to Volvos to IKEA, Sweden is internationally recognized as a leader of cultural thought and political neutrality. The Swedish language is from the branch of North Germanic languages, meaning a lot of built in cognates exist for speakers of other Germanic languages (including English). Kom och tala svenska med mig! [show less]

Old Saxon, the continental cousin to Old English, was the language spoken in Northern Germany from the ninth to the twelfth century. It is closely related to and mutually intelligible with Anglo-Saxon, so Old English students will easily be able to read and understand it. The language boasts a number of smaller texts, but the Hêliand, an epic poem of nearly 6,000 lines, remains its most prestigious literary monument. It tells the story of Jesus Christ (the “Hêliand,” meaning “Savior”) reimagined as a Saxon lord with a retinue of twelve thanes, and it is comparable to the Old English Beowulf. In this module, we will read and discuss selections of this poem. Some familiarity with Old English is required. [show less]

In this puzzle-solving course we will work to piece together Tolkien’s invented languages based primarily on how they are used in The Lord of the Rings. Although much richer linguistic information became publicly available later, this course will look primarily at those aspects of the languages revealed through the main text and appendices of The Lord of the Rings. [show less]