Paper IV: Linguistic Studies I – The History of Czech and Slovak
This introductory course aims to survey the historical development of Czech from the time when it became a distinct entity within the Slavonic group up to the present day. The course will include introductory study of the historical phonology, morphology, syntax and vocabulary, and changes in written norms, with some reference to dialects as well as to the evolution of the most widespread non-standard spoken forms.
The history of Czech as a medium of literature is examined, from the written records of the late 13th and 14th centuries up to the period of the obrození. We also look at the creation of terminology, spelling reforms etc. The development of standard Slovak from the later 18th century onward is also studied in outline.
The prescribed extracts focus on texts of the medieval period, as these contrast most distinctly with the modern language. They are studied in their original orthography.
Passages for commentary and translation from: Jaroslav Porák, Chrestomatie k vývoji českého jazyka (13. – 18. století) (Praha: SPN, 1979): pp. 31-40 (Zakládací listina kapituly litoměřické; Slovo do světa stvořenie; Hospodine, pomiluj ny; Svatý Václave; Legenda o Jidášovi), 54-64 (Dalimilova kronika), 72-88 (Mastičkář), 115-18 (Závišova píseň), 126-31 (Podkoní a žák), 383-7 (Vývoj jazyka překladů Bible).
Transliterations and editorial notes are mostly taken from: Výbor z české literatury od počátků po dobu Husovu, ed. Bohuslav Havránek, Josef Hrabák et al (Praha: Nakladatelství Československé akademie věd, 1957). This book is available (to read or download in PDF format) online from the Ústav pro českou literaturu, Edice E site.
Transliteration and notes for Dalimilova kronika are taken from: Nejstárší česká rýmovaná konika tak řečeného Dalimila, ed. Bohuslav Havránek & Jiří Daňhelka (Praha: NČAV, 1958). [Also available online.]
Texts prepared by: James Partridge
Last updated: April 2018