Middle Arabic [ LGLOR2721 ]

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Two years of Classical and/or Modern Standard Arabic ; knowledge of Arabic dialectology.

This course deals with the sociolinguistic phenomenon of Middle Arabic, also known as mixed Arabic, in its various manifestations. The emphasis is on studies (monographs, articles) on this linguistic phenomenon. These studies will be taken as the point of departure for exploring relevant texts, whether pre-modern (7th to 19th centuries) and deriving from Muslim, Christian, Jewish and confessionally neutral environments, or modern, based on written or oral production (recorded and transcribed, in the latter case). Although this course primarily addresses the sociolinguistic aspects mentioned above (i.e., the mutual interference of various levels or registers of the language), issues of a different nature will be taken into account when deemed relevant: textual problems (composition and transmission), codicological and contextual ones (authorship, literary genre, typology, historical setting). Please note: this course will be offered in alternating years. It complements GLOR 2662, which entirely deals with mediaeval Christian Arabic literature and its historical and cultural backgrounds.

At the end of the course, the student should have acquired:

- thorough familiarity with the sociolinguistic phenomenon of Middle Arabic, or mixed Arabic, in its various manifestations ;
- basic knowledge of mediaeval texts written in Middle Arabic and of contemporary texts either written in the mixed variety of Arabic or transcribed from recordings of oral performance ;
- the ability to independantly read, understand and translate Middle Arabic texts and to assess the methodological value of relevant critical editions ;
- the heuristic skill of using the main instruments for the study of Middle Arabic: grammars, encyclopaedias, bibliographies, monographs and articles, web-based resources ;
- the know-how to carry out individual research within the field of Middle Arabic or the mixed varieties of Arabic ;
- the communication skills required to orally present the findings of a small-scale research project on a relevant text.

Continuous assessment, based on oral presentations and participation in group discussions; oral exam on the course material and on reading assignments.

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This graduate course deals with the sociolinguistic phenomenon of Middle Arabic, also known as mixed Arabic, in its various manifestations. It addresses research on the writings of Muslim, Christian and Jewish mediaeval authors, as well as on written and oral texts expressed in modern Middle Arabic. Students are required to present their research assignments on particular texts. The course provides E-learning activities, with compulsory registration on the I-campus platform.

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Support: printed texts, photocopies, documents presented in digital format, sound recordings. The course provides E-learning activities, with compulsory registration on the I-campus platform.

Please note: while French is the language of instruction, other contact languages (Arabic, English, German) may be used occasionally as well, in the case of contributions by visiting lecturers from abroad.