Ancient Egyptian I
[GLOR1622]
[30h] 6 credits
This course is taught in the 1st semester.
This two-yearly course is taught in 2009-2010, 2011-2012,...
Teacher(s): Claude Obsomer
Language: French
Level: First
Aims
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
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 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, ...)
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.