NFI4105 – Hands-on Runology – Documenting, Editing, and Curating Runic Inscriptions
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
In this course, the student will have a unique opportunity to learn how to study runic inscriptions hands-on in close connection to ongoing runological projects at the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, and at the Museum of Cultural History.
The course focuses on three fundamental aspects of practical runological work: documentation, editing, and preservation of runic inscriptions. Through the practical study of runic inscriptions, the course will thus cover:
- various techniques for reading and documenting inscriptions on different materials
- conventions of editing runic inscriptions, both in traditional paper-based corpus editions and digitally using annotation systems such as XML/TEI
- how cultural institutions like museums and archives catalogue, preserve, and popularize knowledge about runic inscriptions and the artifacts that bear them.
The course will include readings in Scandinavian, and a good reading proficiency in a modern Scandinavian language is therefore a precondition for the completion of the course.
Learning outcome
After the completion of this course, the students will be able to:
- account for various methods for documenting runic inscriptions, and to apply a selection of these methods to document the reading and interpretation of inscriptions, taking their material, linguistic, and historical context into account
- account for existing editorial standards, both in paper and digital editions, and be able to edit runic inscriptions according to a selection of these standards
- account for how museums, archives and other cultural institutions administrate, and to communicate scientific knowledge about runic inscriptions to the general public
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
The number of students that can be admitted to this course is limited. If the places available are exceeded, students will be ranked on the basis of their previous grades in runology and Old Norse language.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The students must have completed an introduction to runology like NFI1100 – Runology - General Introduction?or NFI4100 – Runology - General Introduction or equivalent, with C as a minimum grade.
Students that have taken runology and/or Old Norse courses at other universities than the University of Oslo must provide documentation of such courses and of their grades by contacting the student advisor prior to registering to the course.
The course also presupposes a good reading proficiency in a modern Scandinavian language, as readings in Scandinavian are part of the reading list.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course presupposes a good knowledge of Old Norse and the courses NFI1101 – Norr?n grammatikk og eldre spr?khistorie, NFI4120 – Old Norse - Language and Texts?or equivalent are strongly recommended.
Experience from?an advanced course in runology is recommended, for example NFI2101 – Runology - Runic Inscriptions from the Migration Period to the Viking Age / NFI4123 – Runology - Runic Inscriptions from the Migration Period to the Viking Age or NFI2102 – Runology - Runic Inscriptions of the Middle Ages / NFI4122 – Runology - Runic Inscriptions of the Middle Ages?or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with NFI2105 – Hands-on Runology – Documenting, Editing, and Curating Runic Inscriptions.
Teaching
The course consists of 20 hours in total, including theoretical and practical seminars. The teaching will take place partly at the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, and partly at the Museum of Cultural History.
Participation in the practical activities involving the examinations of runic inscriptions is compulsory.
The number of students that can be admitted to this course is limited.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Approved compulsory activites are valid for the next two terms in which the course is offered
Examination
The outcome of the course will be evaluated through a semester assignment, on which the students will work during the whole semester.
Submit assignments?in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera.?Read about how to submit assignments?in Inspera.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to?the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of?cheating/attempted cheating.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.