General provisions

The course is an independent course. The course syllabus is established by the Board of the Faculty of Languages. The course corresponds to the earlier course Indian studies B.

Entry requirements

Sanskrit A

Learning outcomes

The aim of the education is to give an understanding of Indian literature, secure and deepen knowledge of Sanskrit grammar and give an introduction to the Veda and to Middle Indian languages.

On completion of the course, the student deserving the grade “passed” should at least be able to:

module 1

• account for the chronology of Vedic texts and central their contents;

• have basic knowledge of the Vedic religion and the ritual practice relating to it;

• account for the distinctive linguistic features of the Vedic language;

• master the most important Vedic inflection- and word-formation morphology and the basic syntax;

• transcribe Vedic texts on Devanagari including their accentuation;

• analyse and translate both simple and more complex Vedic texts to Swedish;

• account for problems of interpretation and different interpretations of selected Vedic texts.

module 2

• have basic knowledge of the more difficult structures of the Sanskrit grammar, rare inflection patterns and other rare phenomena and exceptions;

• analyse more complex syntactic structures;

• translate texts in epic Sanskrit and simple poetry writing to Swedish.

module 3

• account for the language and dialects of the Middle Indo-Aryan Languages and dialects at a general level;

• account for the place of Pali within the Middle Indo-Aryan Languages and its unique position among them;

• account for the distinctive linguistic features of Middle Indo-Aryan and their relation to Sanskrit;

• master the most important parts of Middle Indian inflection- and word-formation morphology and basic syntax;

• describe the fundamental features of the phoneme system, inflection morphology and word formation of Middle Indo-Aryan and their respective semantic implications and basic syntax with using linguistic terminology;

• analyse and translate both simple and more complex Middle Indo-Aryan texts into Swedish in a reasonably stylistically brushed-up level;

• account for problems of interpretation and different interpretations of selected Middle Indo-Aryan texts.

Content

The course consists of four modules:

Module 1: Introduction to the Veda, 7.5 credits

Introduction into the philology of the Veda. Overview of Vedic grammar with reading of selected Rigveda hymns and Vedic prose. Linguistic, historical, religious and literary commentaries to the studied texts.

Module 2: Sanskrit texts and grammar, 7.5 credits

Specialisation in the grammar of the epic and classical Sanskrit language. Linguistic and content analysis of chosen texts from different genres of epic and classical Sanskrit.

Module 3: Introduction in Middle Indo-Aryan Languages (Pali, Prakrit), 7.5 credits

Overview of Pali or Prakrit grammar including the reading of chosen texts. Linguistic, historical, religious and literary comments to the studied texts.

Module 4: Indian literature, history of literature and stylistics, 7.5 credits

Introduction in Indian history of literature. overview of genres within ancient- and neo-Indian literature. Introduction to syntax and stylistics. Basics of literary analysis and orientation basic overview on Indian and European literary theory.

Instruction

The teaching consists of the following parts: lecture, exercise and examination. The student's independent learning activities are of crucial importance for the result.

Assessment

The students demonstrate the results of their learning through a combination of examinatory elements. The examinations can be both oral and written. They can take place at scheduled times and places (for example within the scope of regular teaching), or or in the form of home assignments. The regulations for this shall be fixed at the beginning of the course.

To receive the grade “pass with distinction” for the complete course, it is required that this grade has been received for at least 22.5 credits.

Course level in relation to degree requirements

The course intends the other semester studies within the main field of study Indian studies. Specialisation to Bachelor of Arts further requires 60 credits within this, of which a degree project about 15 credits.

Other directives

The course may not be included in a higher education qualification as freestanding course if parts of it form part of another course that is included in a higher education qualification.