Topics covered include the origin and development of writing; the history of the decipherment of certain scripts; the recovery of the pronunciation and structure of dead languages; how we figure out what texts in dead languages say; and, ancient views on language, etymology, and language change.
Course Requirements:
Lecture attendance; readings and homeworks; midterm and final exams; researched mini-paper
Intended Audience:
Undergraduates interested in language and writing, especially in antiquity. No knowledge of any ancient language or of linguistics needed.
Class Format:
Lecture