Thesis Theater: Ryan Moniz ~ “Brewing Óðinn’s Mead: A Reconstructive Approach”

Signum Symposia

This recording from December 11, 2021.

Signum master’s student Ryan Moniz will present his thesis “Brewing Óðinn’s Mead: A Reconstructive Approach to Germanic Verse Formula” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Ryan’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Nelson Goering.

Abstract:

‘In this thesis, I approach formulaic elements in Germanic alliterative verse from a comparative historical linguistics perspective, applying the comparative method to cognate verse formulae which appear in multiple old Germanic languages including Old Norse, Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German. I first present the raw data extracted from early mythological, heroic, legendary, and elegiac Germanic alliterative poetry, then I review the data and provide a linguistic reconstruction of each formula presented. The objective of applying this approach is to yield a list of pre-historical reconstructions of verse formulae common to West Germanic languages, and common to both West and North Germanic languages.’

About the Presenter:

Ryan Moniz earned his BA in Linguistics and Cultural Studies from Seattle Pacific University. He has been an enthusiastic reader of ancient and medieval poetry from a young age, and is passionate about the historical connections between languages and cultures. He is currently planning his next journey in the woods with his partner and their dog in Seattle, Washington.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

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