This course offers an introduction to the Old High German language. We will examine its diachronic and synchronic linguistic structure and familiarise ourselves with its various regional varieties. Particular attention will be paid to the sound laws and morphological changes that distinguish Old High German from its Germanic sister languages. Throughout the course, we will translate simple and moderately challenging Old High German texts and place them in a comparative, diachronic linguistic context. We will hereby also gain an overview of the Old High German literary tradition.

• Level: The course requires a basic knowledge of historical linguistics.
• Requirements: The daily homework consists of small portions of text to be translated and some grammatical assignments.
• Materials:
  1. Braune, Wilhelm und Heidermanns, Frank (2023). Althochdeutsche Grammatik I. Phonologie und Morphologie. 17th ed. Berlin: De Gruyter.
  2. Schützeichel, Rudolf (2012). Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch. 7th ed. Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter.
  3. A Reader will be distributed in the course.

The course offers an introduction to the Old Frisian language. We focus on reading and appreciating Old Frisian texts, especially the law texts which make up the bulk of the corpus of Old Frisian and which can be very vivid. Old Frisian grammar and structure will be discussed, including such problems as dialectology, periodization and its place within Germanic, including the Anglo-Frisian complex. We also pay attention to how Old Frisian literature functioned within the feuding society that Frisia was until the close of the Middle Ages.

• Requirements The daily homework consists of small portions of text to be translated, some grammatical and other assignments on the text, and reading a number of background articles.
• Materials: Rolf H. Bremmer Jr, An Introduction to Old Frisian. History, Grammar, Reader, Glossary (Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2009; revised reprint 2011).

Students can order the Introduction with a rebate of 50% straight from the publisher. Send your order to bookorder@benjamins.nl with your full postal address and the words 'Summer School'. As soon as you have paid the bill, the book will be sent to you. Please bring a hard copy with you, because experience tells it works much better in class than an e-version on your laptop or mobile.

TBA

This course offers an introduction to Old Dutch (700–1200), the precursor of Early Middle Dutch (1200–1300) and Middle Dutch (1300–1550). It places strong emphasis on reading and philologically analysing various texts (ranging from glosses to bible commentaries) within their proper historical and linguistic context. Old Dutch is one of the lesser-studied Old Germanic languages and is often treated only in passing alongside Old Saxon and Old High German. The course demonstrates that this marginal position is undeserved, as Old Dutch is essential for understanding the linguistic history of the Low Countries, early Dutch dialect diversity and the development of the Germanic languages.

• Level: General knowledge of historical linguistics is required.
• Requirements: There will be daily homework.
• Materials: A syllabus and reader will be provided.