Oriental languages and civilizations

General objectives: The course of Chinese Philology aims to provide student with a comprehensive framework of the Chinese classical language and its morphological, grammatical, and syntactic features, as well as its periodization. The knowledge of classical stylistic forms, their structures, as well as the acquaintance with the non- simplified characters, will allow the learner to acquire the necessary tools for the critical reading of Chinese classical texts, and it will provide him with the necessary skills to extricate himself in the Chinese modern language. The basic linguistic features will be learned together with the reading, analysis and translation of selected texts of classical poetry and prose, in non-simplified characters, from the period of the Warring States (Lunyu, Mengzi etc.) to the Song dynasty. Specific objectives: At the end of the course the student has acquired the knowledge of the basic features of the morphology, grammar, and syntax of the Chinese classical language, as well as the knowledge of the development of the Chinese language. He is familiar with non-simplified characters and has acquired the means to deal with critical reading and translation of texts in literary Chinese. The student knows the main authors, as well as the and literary trend and school of thought of the classical period up to the Song dynasty that he faced with the translation of selected pieces.