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Reading pre-modern Arabic Texts

Vak
2021-2022

Admission requirements

This course is only open to students in the Arabic track who – upon written request – were granted access by the Board of Examiners to the Shadow Programme.

All preceding Arabic language acquisition courses from the first semester: Arabic Literature, Research Analysis through Arabic Sources and dialect or equivalent knowledge of MSA.

Description

This course has two goals: (i) to train students to read pre-modern Arabic literature (i.e. texts written before 1800) in their original Arabic; and (ii) to teach students how to use Arabic reference tools: such as pre-modern dictionaries, pre-modern geographical lexicons and biographical dictionaries.

The course is divided into three thematic parts. Focus will be on reading and translating Arabic texts with added emphasis on teaching the tools students can use to better understand the Arabic literature.

Over its long literary history, the Arabic language developed, and texts which were considered ‘classics’ to medieval Muslims often included references and vocabulary that had become archaic or obscure. Medieval Muslims developed a rich literature of commentaries and lexicons to help make the old texts understandable, and the texts we will read in this class will be supplemented by such ancillary Arabic writings.

Students will learn how to use Arabic-Arabic dictionaries to explore the meanings of difficult words encountered, geographical dictionaries to look up place names mentioned in the literature, biographical dictionaries to learn about the people mentioned in the texts, and commentaries on poetry.

All the required Arabic texts will be posted on Brightspace.

Course objectives

Students will:

i) learn to read Arabic literary texts in their original language with the aid of a dictionary;
ii) develop their proficiency in Arabic and Arabic grammar;
iii) learn the skills necessary to use the commentary and ancillary literature;
iv) be able to start using pre-modern Arabic sources for research purposes; and
v) learn about the cultural practices and production in the pre-modern Muslim world.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

Seminar.

Attendance and active participation are obligatory for seminars. Students are required to prepare for and attend all sessions. The convenors need to be informed without delay of any classes missed for a good reason (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family issues, problems with residence permits, the Dutch railways in winter, etc.). In these cases it is up to the discretion of the convener(s) of the course whether or not the missed class will have to be made up with an extra assignment. The maximum of such absences during a semester is two. Being absent without notification and/or more than two times can result in exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course.

Assessment method

Partial Assessment Weighing
Participation 10%
Vocabulary Tests 20%
Homework Assignment 10%
Presentation 10%
Final exam 50%

Vocabulary Tests

  • The tests will cover vocabulary encountered in the primary readings

  • There will be 4 tests, once every 3 weeks during the semester

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Resit

Students who receive a failing grade will have an opportunity to retake the exam which will also count for 50% towards the final grade.

Exam review

If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.

Reading list

Students will receive a detailed week-by-week handout of the required readings at the beginning of the course.
The detailed syllabus and readings will also be available on Brightspace.

In preparation for the course, students may wish to consult the following:

  • Allen, Roger, The Arabic Literary Heritage. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2005.

  • Young, Latham and Serjeant (eds), Religion, Learning and Science in the Abbasid Period. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1990.

  • Cachia, Pierre, Arabic Literature: an overview. London: Routledge, 2003.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

Contact

Remarks