UCL - Ancient Egyptian I

[GLOR1621]

[30h] 6 credits

This two-yearly course is taught in 2008-2009, 2010-2011,...

Teacher(s): Claude Obsomer

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

The course GLOR 1621, in combination with the course GLOR 1622, gives an introduction into
Ancient Egyptian. By the end of the first level, students should have mastered the most important grammatical structures of Middle Egyptian. They should be able to transliterate, read and translate sentences written in hieroglyphs, in particular the inscriptions on reliefs, paintings and statues. By the end of the second level, students will master more complex grammatical structures and will be able to translate sizeable extracts of historical and literary texts.

Main themes

In combination with GLOR 1622 this course is focusing on Middle Egyptian, the classical language of Ancient Egypt which was in use during the second millennium B.C. (the Middle Kingdom and the beginning of the New Kingdom). The course offers students a systematic approach to the study of hieroglyphs, a core vocabulary and the key grammatical structures (morphology and syntax). Theory is backed up with practical exercises (words, groups of words and complete sentences). At the level of syntax, emphasis is placed on the noun phrase and verbless clauses (students should also know the verb "to be"). According to the level of knowledge the student may spent more time on the study of verbs and verb phrases, using the exercises provided in the course. He can also study himself extracts of historical and literary texts.

Content and teaching methods

The course is based on a specially-designed manual: Cl. Obsomer, Egyptien hiéroglyphique. Grammaire pratique du moyen égyptien et exercices d'application (Egyptian Hieroglyphics, a Practical Grammar of Middle Egyptian with Exercises), ed. Safran, 2003, 192 pages. Through a selection of carefully chosen words, students gradually discover the hieroglyphic writing system and the most frequent signs. They then have to memorise the most common hieroglyphics and a core vocabulary, which together enable the signs to be more easily assimilated.
The approach to the grammar is synthetic and systematic, taking in nouns, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions and noun phrases. Stage two takes in verbless clauses, verb categories and infinitives.
The verb system is explained synthetically (using theory and a selection of illustrative sentences to act as paradigms).

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Course entry requirements: none.
Evaluation: written examination followed by oral validation.
Course materials: Cl. Obsomer, Egyptien hiéroglyphique. Grammaire pratique du moyen égyptien et exercices d'application (Egyptian Hieroglyphics, a Practical Grammar of Middle Egyptian with Exercises), ed. Safran, 2003.