Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree in a humanities subject with at least 22.5 credits in a Semitic language.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide an overview of the North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects, an in-depth study of a few selected dialects through text reading and analysis, and competence in transcribing simple dialect recordings.

For a passing grade the student should after completing the course be able to:

• describe the cultural and historical context of the Northeast Nyaramese dialects.
• describe and discuss the position of the North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects within the Aramaic language family and relevant historical developments.
• account for the classification of the North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects within the language branch, their characteristics and distribution.
• describe and discuss the differences between the dialects of Christians and Jews
• describe the grammatical features of the selected North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects
• master the writing system used for the selected literary variety
• translate and linguistically analyze texts in the selected North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects, both transcribed recordings and literary texts, in the original writing system.
• use linguistic terminology to describe the linguistic features of the texts
• scientifically transcribe simple recordings of the selected North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects.

Content

The course includes an overview of the North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic dialects, their distribution, characteristics and position in the Aramaic language family. It also includes the reading and linguistic analysis of textual material in some selected North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic varieties, both spoken and literary, and the transcription of simple recordings in these varieties.

Instruction

Teaching takes the form of either seminars or tutorials.

Assessment

Examination takes the form of continuous assessment of active participation in class (i.e. answering questions and working on assignments) and assignments.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.