Language Technologies and Digital Humanities

A good knowledge of Latin is required. In the absence of appropriate documentation, the teachers reserve the right to verify this via the Moodle placement test.
Likewise, a certain familiarity with the TEI language, which is necessary for processing the digital apparatus, is required.

The course presents 2 indivisible modules and aims to illustrate the characteristics and methods of using Latin corpora and the digital approach to research and teaching of the discipline.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Knowledge of the main methods of the digital approach to Latin and the main Latin corpora

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
To design digital Latin research activities based on solid theoretical foundations; to apply the corpora and digital tools to the planned activities;

AUTONOMY OF JUDGEMENT
Reflect critically on available tools and propose new ones; understand the innovative implications for Latin research and teaching

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Express oneself in a scientifically correct manner regarding the topics of the discipline

LEARNING SKILLS
Refine learning skills in the discipline; ability to rework knowledge.

HOW TO EDIT A DIGITAL CRITICAL EDITION

The subject of the course is the digital critical edition of closed tradition texts with numerous manuscripts available. Students will therefore have to learn how to transfer the usual formulas of a traditional critical edition into the TEI environment and syntax, and then make them visible and usable via the EVT application.
The 9 lessons will be divided as follows:

• Lesson 1. Introduction: what is a digital critical edition? (E. Malaspina)

• Lessons 2.-3. The critical apparatus in the TEI syntax (E. Malaspina) 

• Lesson 4 (dott. A. Grillone)

  Part 1:

  1. a) An introduction to the EVT software (Edition Visualisation Technology): from the initial version (EVT1) to the next generation (EVT3);
  2. b) Examples of EVT editions: presentation of their features and limits;

  Part 2:

  Review of TEI guidelines, XML-TEI schemas and markup

   

  Lesson 5 (dott. A. Grillone)

  Part 1:

  Installation, configuration and use of EVT2;

  Part 2:

  Advanced topics:

  1. a) Overlapping hierarchies’ problems and possible solutions;
  2. b) Named Entities;
  3. c) Miscellaneous and/or extensive collections: the XInclude mechanism;
  4. d) Stylesheet languages;

   

  Lesson 6 (dott. A. Grillone)

  Part 1:

  Exercise: preparation of a critical edition with EVT;

  Part 2:

  1. a) An introduction to the case study, i. e. Humanistic translations from Greek: the humanistic translations field, John Argyropoulos and his translations of Nicomachean Ethic;
  2. b) The author philology: how to represent the different drafting stages in an XML-TEI apparatus and how to allow visualisation of the Greek model;
  3. c) Analysis of advantages and difficulties of a digital synoptic edition;

   

  Lesson 7 (dott. A. Magnaldi)

  Part 1:

  Reading and translation and philological commentary on selected passages;

  Part 2:

  Exercise: production of a synoptic critical edition from the passages translated in the previous part.

   

  Lesson  8  (dott. A. Magnaldi)

  Part 1:

  Introduction to the second case study: the Liber Medicinalis attributed to Quintus Serenus.

  1. The content and the structure of the Liber Medicinalis
  2. The manuscript tradition of the Liber Medicinalis

  Part 2:

  1. The representation of glossae in a digital scholarly edition: deepening on glossae in the Carolingian manuscripts containing the Liber’s text.
  2. The representation of sources and loci paralleli in a digital scholarly edition: the Liber’s relationship with Pliny the Elder and other Latin and Greek medical texts.

   

  Lesson 9  (dott. A. Magnaldi)

  Part 1:

  Reading and translation of a passage chosen as case study; analysis of the digital reproductions of the Carolingian manuscripts which contain the text.

  Part 2:

  Exercise: creation of a digital scholarly edition sample based on the passage previously examined, especially focusing on the TEI encoding and representation of glossae, loci paralleli and sources via the EVT software.

   

• 4.-5. EVT (Dr. A. Grillone, A. Magnaldi)
• 6.-7. Case study: Quintus Serenus Sammonicus (Dr A. Magnaldi)
• 8.-9. Case study: humanistic translations from Greek (Dr. A. Grillone)

Teaching is conducted in presence, with the constant invitation for students to participate, and does not include lecture recording or streaming.

Those who cannot attend should read the instructions in the Programme section.

Attendees (12 minimum compulsory hours out of 18):

1. the topics of the lessons 1-5 with translation, analysis and philological commentary of all passages examined;

2.a For those who in the BA or another MA have never taken L-FIL-LET/04 exams: History of Latin Literature. The recommended book is P. FEDELI, E. MALASPINA, L. ANTONELLI, Musae Comites - Gold Version, Volume I and II, Turin, De Agostini, 2023.

2.b Students who have already prepared the history of Latin literature in the BA or another MA will agree with their professors on a substitute programme for this part.

3. Lessons 6-7: Starting from a section of text (accompanied by an apparatus) not seen in class, the student will have to prepare a scholarly digital edition with EVT provided with critical apparatus and apparatus of sources and loci similes; the translation and the philological commentary of the edited passage and those seen in class will also be required during the exam. Lessons 8-9: Students will have to create a digital scholarly edition sample of a portion of the text not analysed in class, that will be based on the Carolingian witnesses of the Liber. Starting from the digital reproductions of the manuscripts, the student will have to create a digital scholarly edition of the assigned text provided with critical apparatus, glossae, index of names of persons, index of medicinal plants, apparatus of sources and loci similes.

Non-attending students: 

In addition to 1. 2.a/b 3., metrical reading and translation of Horace, Epistles I, 1-6.

Lectures with lecturers from other universities on topics related to the course topics may be organised during the course.

I COPY BELOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REPORT: 

For students with SLD or disabilities, please take note of the
view the support arrangements
(https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilita [1]) and
of reception
(https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa [2]) of the
University, and in particular the procedures necessary for support in the
examination venue
(https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con
[3]).

The complete bibliography will be uploaded in the teaching materials in January 2024.

The course will be taught in collaboration with the University's DH Centre (DISH) and with the co-presence in class of PNRR PhD students who will present their respective critical digital editions as case studies.