LSA 307: Indo-European linguistics

Mark R. Hale | six-week course | MW 3:30 – 5:15, 106 Moffitt Hall

This course presents a rapid survey of the current state of research in the core areas of Indo-European linguistics. The focus will be on linguistic issues, somewhat narrowly defined (phonology, morphology, and syntax), rather than the broader field of Indo-European studies as a whole; the Urheimatfrage, the "Nostratic" hypothesis, and "punctuated equilibrium" will not be discussed. We will instead explore the segment inventory of PIE, accent/ablaut & morphology, Wackernagel's so-called Law, and the like. The relationship between controversial issues in Indo-European linguistics and general diachronic methodology will receive some attention.

Reading: Selected materials available online.

Areas of linguistics: Areal and historical linguistics; Languages of Eurasia