Syntax, formulaic structures, and canon-marking in Greek and Arabic: documentary texts and Galen (MSCA Doctoral Network MECANO)

This PhD project is part of the MSCA Doctoral Network MECANO ('The Mechanics of Canon Formation and the Transmission of Knowledge from Greco-Roman Antiquity'). MECANO brings together five universities and an array of academic and non-academic institutions interested in the topic of canonicity. MECANO's twofold goal is to develop a new model for the study of canonicity and to train ten PhD researchers to become historically conscious and digitally skilled Humanities PhDs, ready to tackle the challenges of modern engagement with the topics of canonicity, diversity, and cultural heritage.

The aim of this PhD project concerns Galen’s vast Greek corpus of medical treatises, many also translated into Arabic. This group of texts offers perfect territory for exploring language structures in the canonical writer’s toolbox. How original or common were they? Can the impacts of such canon markers be traced in non-Galenic attestations of contemporary and other germane language material? Galen’s works spread widely already during his time; there is also contemporary language material in the form of documentary and (semi)literary papyri of similar text types (e.g. prescriptive passages in recipes and instructions in medical and magical papyri; stipulations in legal documents; dialogic, narrative, polemical or politeness mechanisms in private letters and petitions).

The specific objectives of this project are: (1) to study a syntactic feature (e.g. subordination, directives, non-finite complementation) in a select treatise or cross-section of treatises by Galen (with surviving translations in Arabic) in comparison to the range of linguistic possibilities used in documentary material; (2) to gauge the extent of formulaic structures in Galen’s usage and (3) to identify markers of canonicity. An analysis of Galen’s usage within this complex Greek état de langue equips the study with an informed basis for analysing the survival of structure/s (Bauformen) in the Arabic translations, along with the canon marking they imply or display.

Aside from the many activities and diverse expertise on offer in the Classics department, scholars of Arabic and Syriac language and literature offer excellent academic opportunities at the Hebrew University (HUJI) including courses, reading groups and superior library resources, all promoting expertise and high-quality research skills.

Responsibilities and Activities

• As a PhD candidate you will write a PhD thesis in Classics. You will be supervised by Prof. Donna Shalev (HUJI) and co-supervised by Marja Vierros (University of Helsinki).
• By the end of your first year, you will submit a full research proposal to your PhD committee (comprised of your supervisors and two external members).
• You will participate in the ongoing activities at the Department of Classical Studies at the Hebrew University.
• You will take a number of courses at the department and faculty and have access to all libraries and university resources. 

You will be part of an MSCA Doctoral Network, a vibrant group of PhD candidates and international researchers from five universities. This means participating in networking activities and spending time abroad, gaining from a unique study and training experience. You will take full part in the training programme, consisting of summer schools, workshops, a regular online seminar, and other activities.

Your programme includes two secondments: at the Department of Languages at the University of Helsinki (4-month research stay) and Brill/De Gruyter Publishers (Leiden, 3 months), preparing digital lexical entries for the GALex Greco-Arabic dictionary, learning about text encoding and the TEI, as well as morphology extraction.

The fellowship is for 3 Years, an extension may be possible based on accomplishments and available resources.