General provisions

The course is given as an independent course.

The course can be counted to the minor field Aramaic/Syriac in a Bachelor\x{2019}s degree.

Entry requirements

The modules Basic Course in Syriac, 7.5 credits, Classical Syriac I, 7.5 credits, Classical Syriac II, 7.5 credits, within Aramaic/Syriac A.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the student extended ability to read, understand and linguistically analyse classical Syriac texts on the basis of increased knowledge in history, culture and literature, and basic ability to use the functional grammar concept on Syriac text material.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

With respect to module 1:

Classical Syriac prose and poetry

translate given texts in classical Syriac prose and poetry with and without the help of a dictionary.

With respect to module 2:

Classical Syriac syntax and text

analyse selected classical Syriac texts with regard to regular (strong) and irregular (weak) word formations and basic syntax (including the most common logical complex sentences and various types of subordinate clauses) by means of a reference grammar;

make a detailed account of the morphosyntax (form and syntax) of classical Syriac using basic linguistic terminology.

With respect to module 3:

Grammar and text linguistics

account for a selection grammatical constructions and their text linguistic functions from a cross-lingual perspective;

identify and analyse grammatical constructions in given texts and account for their text linguistic functions;

account for the concept structural variation in human languages;

account for how the grammar interacts with semantics and pragmatics in a grammatical perspective;

apply a functional linguistic model in the main language regarding basic word order, tense-aspect-modality and voice and then describe the syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and, to a certain extent, stylistic properties of the different grammatical constructions;

analyse simple narrative prose in the main language using the terminology of functional grammar.

With respect to module 4:

Aramaic/Syriac literature

at a general level account for the development of Syriac literature in its historical context;

account for the most important Syriac authors' life and literary works.

Content

Classical Syriac prose and poetry, 7.5 credits

Classical Syriac syntax and text, 7.5 credits

Grammar and textual linguistics, 7.5 credits

Aramaic/Syriac literature, 7.5 credits

Instruction

Instruction consists of lectures, workshops and assessment.

The student's own learning activities are crucial for completion of the course.

Assessment

The students show the results of their learning through a combination of different forms of assessment,

which can be either oral or written.

They can take place at scheduled time and location (for instance within the framework of regular teaching), or be such that the student carry out alone.

Information regarding assessment will be announced at the beginning of the course.

For the grade Pass with distinction, Pass with distinction in at least three of the included modules is required.

Other directives

The course may not be included in a degree if equivalent parts have been read within another course included in the degree.