Introduction to Syriac 1 - KJAZ196

• Title: Introduction to Syriac 1
• Guaranteed by: Department of Biblical Sciences and ancient languages (26-KBV)
• Faculty: Catholic Theological Faculty
• Actual: from 2013 to 2015
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, C [HT]
• Extent per academic year: 28 [hours]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: you can enroll for the course repeatedly; course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D.

Annotation

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

"Syriac is the Aramaic dialect of Edessa, an important center of early Christianity in Mesopotamia. Edessene Syriac was rapidly accepted as the literary language of all non-Greek eastern Christianity and was the primary vehicle for the Christianization of large parts of central and south-central Asia" (Thackston, Introduction to Syriac, p. vii).
Students are introduced into Syriac alphabet, basic grammar and vocabulary, so that from the first lessons they are able to read a create simple sentences. After few classes they are able to read and translate the phrases based on the biblical vocabulary.

Aim of the course

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

The aim of the course is to introduce students into reading of the Syriac texts. At the beginning the oldest script, Estrangela, will be used, then ability to read in other two scripts, Nestorian (East Syriac) and Jacobite (West Syriac), will be practiced. The focus of the study is on a good basic knowledge of phonology, morphology, grammar and syntax. Also familiarity with the elementar Syriac vocabulary will be asked, that will be practiced in the oral and written translation exercices from Syriac into English.

Literature

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (14.09.2011)

W. M. Thackston, Introduction to Syriac. An Elementary Grammar with Readings from Syriac Literature, Bethesda, Maryland: IBEX Publishers, 1999

D. M. Gurtner, Introduction to Syriac. Key to Exercises and English-Syriac Vocabulary, Bethesda, Maryland: IBEX Publishers, 2006

 

Teaching methods

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

Explanation of grammar and syntax, exercices in vocabulary and translation. Homework exercices will be asked regularly.

Syllabus

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

1) Introduction:   Phonology, Script, History of the Syriac Language.

2) Lesson 1:   1.1 The Emphatic State   1.2 Gender   1.3 The Perfect of the Simple Verb   1.4 The Proclitics

3) Lesson 2:   2.1 The Perfect: Full Inflection   2.2 Direct Objects

4) Lesson 3:   3.1 Pronominal Enclitics I   3.2 Predication of Existence and the Expression of Possession   3.3 Relative Clauses

5) Lesson 4:   4.1 Possessive Pronouns   4.2 Noun-Noun Possession   4.3 The Pronoun Koll   4.4 Pronominal Anticipation with Prepositions

6) Lesson 5:   5.1 Noun Plurals: Emphatic State

7) Lesson 6:   6.1 Independent Pronouns   6.2 The Short Pronouns as Copulas   6.3 Demonstratives

8) Lesson 7:   7.1 Inflection of III-Weak Verbs   7.2 The Perfect of Hwá   7.3 The Perfect with Object Suffixes

9) Lesson 8:   8.1 The Active Parcticiples   8.2 Uses of the Participle   8.3 Object Suffixes with the Third-Person Plural Verb

10) Lesson 9:   9.1 Adjectives   9.2 Pronominal Enclitics II   9.3 Possessive Suffixes with Plural Nouns   9.4 Paradigm of ya(h)b

11) Lesson 10:   10.1 Paradigm of I-y Verbs   10.2 Object Suffixes with the Remaining Persons (Perfect)   10.3 The Construct Singular   10.4 The Construct Plural   10.5 Adjectives in the Construct State   10.6 Adverbs

12) Lesson 11:   11.1 Paradigm of Hollow Verbs: Perfect   11.2 Paradigm of Geminate Verbs: Perfect   11.3 Paradigm of II-alap Verbs: Perfect   11.4 The Pleonastic Dative

13) Lesson 12:   12.1 Passive Participles   12.2 III-Weak Verbs with Pronominal Objects   12.3 Aba, Aha, and Hma with Pronominal Possessives

 

Entry requirements

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

There are no entrance requirements. Knowledge of any form of Aramaic or Biblical Hebrew or any Semitic language will be helpful for students.

Course completion requirements

Last update: doc. ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D. (30.01.2013)

1) minimally 80% class participation;

2) final test in morphology and vocabulary (minim. 60%)

3) translation from Syriac into English: sentences from the exercices (lessons 1 - 12) without using dictionary (minim. 60%).