Most people know Ancient Greek and Latin — but the ancient European world held many more languages, each with its own remarkable history and often substantial body of literature. From the Norse sagas to the missionary work of Cyril and Methodius and the conversion of the Armenian king around 300AD, this course offers a rare taste of what else is out there, both linguistically and as literature. For some students, it's also a chance to connect with their own particular European heritage.
Both options cover the same course content — the difference is how and when you learn.
Single session
Book individual 1-hour sessions with Nigel. No commitment — start whenever you're ready.
$40 / session
Book a sessionBundle — best value
Save with 4 sessions. Use them however you like — one topic or several.
$140 / 4 sessions
Book a bundleInterested in a group class? Classes of up to 5 students can become available with a minimum of two students — students have access to 8 group classes for the price of 4 one-on-one sessions. Tick the group class option in the booking form to let Nigel know.
What you'll learn
Appreciate the distinctive character of a wide range of Indo-European languages
Understand how each language connects back to Proto-Indo-European
Read short passages from several ancient languages with guidance
Be aware of the rich literary traditions in these lesser-known languages
Have a foundation for further specialised study in any branch that interests you
Course outline
Introduction, then Linear B / Mycenaean Greek — the language of Greece between 1400–1200 BC, hundreds of years before Homer and Classical Greek; its own pictographic-style script, used for palace records
Oscan / Umbrian — the other languages of ancient Italy alongside Latin (Pompeii was in Oscan-speaking territory); extraordinary legal and religious texts
Hittite — the oldest recorded Indo-European language (1600–1200 BC), cuneiform script, very ancient features; rituals, treaties, decrees, law code, myths, omens, medical texts
Old Norse — the language of ancient Scandinavia and Iceland; praise poetry, histories, and sagas
Old Irish / Ancient Gaulish — Gaulish resembles Latin, but Old Irish underwent a radical transformation, arguably the most difficult of the ancient Indo-European languages; The Cattle Raid of Cualnge and The Story of Mac Da Thó's Pig
Tocharian A/B — the most eastern Indo-European languages, discovered in the Tarim Basin of western China, mostly 6th–8th century AD texts; largely Buddhist literature, including a poem to death, a love poem, and the Story of the Mechanical Girl
Old Church Slavonic — the oldest recorded Slavic language, used by missionaries including Cyril and Methodius to bring Christian literature to the Balkans from the 9th century; an extract from the Life of Constantine
Classical Armenian — evolved in eastern Turkey amid many peoples and languages; small core Indo-European vocabulary with bizarre sound changes; the pagan myth of Vahagn's birth and the conversion of the Armenian king to Christianity; review and synthesis
Who this course is for
You've completed the Indo-European course and want to explore the branches in depth
You have a specific European heritage and want to connect with its ancient linguistic roots
You're a linguist or language enthusiast who wants the broadest possible survey of the family
You want access to the rich literatures of languages that most people have never heard of
Your teacher
Nigel spent seven years attending degree-level classes across every branch of the Indo-European language family. He now teaches from Auckland to students worldwide via Microsoft Teams.
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