Course program
Introduction to Modern Tibetan language and to the Tibetan civilization.
Lessons will be taught in Italian, will last for two semesters, and will be focused on:
a) presentation and analytical comment of the grammatical and syntactical themes contained in the textbook; in particular, they will be articulated in the reading and writing of the dialogues, the analysis of the grammatical contents and related examples, the performance of the exercises of each lesson in the classroom, and the use of the dictionary;
b) oral exercises, such as individual and group repetition of the dialogues contained in the textbook, active listening to the tracks of the relative CD concomitant to each lesson as well as to any other element aimed at developing listening and comprehension skills (such as traditional and modern songs, short poems, etc.);
c) presentations of the Tibetan culture and civilization in its salient aspects according to the reference bibliography; participation to seminars, lectures, and relevant extracurricular activities (e.g. exhibits); critical and analytical viewing of pertinent documentaries and movies.
The syllabus and relevant information will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Prerequisites
A good working knowledge of academic English is essential for the study of reference materials and for the use of the dictionaries.
Books
All students, including those not attending classes, all curricula.
Language:
1. Rossi, Donatella and Dhondup, Nyima, Corso di lingua tibetana moderna, (A modern Tibetan language course), Editore Ulrico Hoepli, Milano, 2013. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 609. (Up to the last lesson studied in class).
Culture (Bibliografia di Riferimento)
1. Stein, Rolf A., Tibetan Civilization, Stanford University Press, 1972 (First Edition). ISBN: 0-8047-0901-7. (In full).
2. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and Various Authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell'Asia (Introduction to Asian Philosophical and Religious Thought), Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Roma, 2018. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: OR C 427, 427bis, 427ter. (Sections on Bon and Buddhism, pp. 109-274).
3. Cabezon, Jose and Jackson, Roger, R. (eds.), Tibetan Literature: Studies In Genre, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1996. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 365. (Two articles chosen by the student). Link for online access to the text through The Tibetan & Himalayan Library:
http://www.thlib.org/encyclopedias/literary/genres/genres-book.php#!book=/studies-in-genres/a2/.
4. Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Religions of Tibet in Practice, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1997. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 613. (Two articles chosen by the student).
Frequency
Class attendance, although not mandatory, is highly recommended.
Exam mode
A written test and an oral test to be carried out separately at the end of the course.
The objective of the written test is to ascertain the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes by the student, with particular reference to DD1.
La prova scritta è Open Book; viene valutata in termini di Idoneità; essa si intende superata con una percentuale di errori non superiore al 40%. Il superamento della prova scritta consentirà l'accesso alla prova orale con un voto di partenza determinato dal risultato della prova scritta. La prova scritta implicherà: a) scrittura dell'alfabeto secondo l'ordine dei tratti e relativa traslitterazione in Wylie; b) traduzione di 10 (dieci) frasi dall'italiano in tibetano e 10 (dieci) frasi dal tibetano in italiano. La durata della prova sarà di 3 (tre) ore. Per sostenere la prova inviare un’email direttamente alla docente con i propri dati e la sessione prescelta, senza iscriversi su Infostud.
The written test is in Open Book form; it is assessed in terms of Eligibility and is considered to have been passed with a percentage of errors not exceeding 40%. Passing the written test will allow access to the oral exam and with an entry mark determined by the written test. The written test will involve: a) writing of the alphabet according to the order of the strokes and relative transliteration; b) translation of 10 (ten) sentences from the Italian into Tibetan and 10 (ten) sentences from the Tibetan into Italian; allowed the use of the dictionary. The duration of the test will be 3 (three) hours. To take the test, please send an emial to the professor with your academic data and the chosen session, without signing up on Infostud.
The objective of the oral exam is to ascertain the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes by the student, with particular reference to the DD 2, 3, 4, and 5. It will be implemented as an open unstructured stimulus test and will consist of: a) an evaluative and interlocutory analysis of the written test; b) a brief dialogue in Tibetan, in ’question and answer’ form and verification of spelling skills; c) questions on topics related to the reference bibliography.
The oral exam will be taken in the Italian language, is evaluated in thirtieths, and is considered passed with a grade not inferior to 18/30. The student must first of all be able to express him/herself in a correct and academically relevant Italian; s/he must also demonstrate to have acquired sufficient knowledge of the cultural topics related to the subject-matter and be able to cogently describe them. To achieve a score of 30/30 with honors, the student must demonstrate that s/he has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and be able to articulate their appreciation in a logical, coherent, critical, and creative manner.
Bibliography
Language:
1. Rossi, Donatella and Dhondup, Nyima, Corso di lingua tibetana moderna, (A modern Tibetan language course), Editore Ulrico Hoepli, Milano, 2013. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 609. (Up to the last lesson studied in class).
Culture (Bibliografia di Riferimento)
1. Stein, Rolf A., Tibetan Civilization, Stanford University Press, 1972 (First Edition). ISBN: 0-8047-0901-7. (In full).
2. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and Various Authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell'Asia (Introduction to Asian Philosophical and Religious Thought), Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Roma, 2018. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: OR C 427, 427bis, 427ter. (Sections on Bon and Buddhism, pp. 109-274).
3. Cabezon, Jose and Jackson, Roger, R. (eds.), Tibetan Literature: Studies In Genre, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1996. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 365. (Two articles chosen by the student). Link for online access to the text through The Tibetan & Himalayan Library:
http://www.thlib.org/encyclopedias/literary/genres/genres-book.php#!book=/studies-in-genres/a2/.
4. Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Religions of Tibet in Practice, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1997. Dept. of Oriental Studies shelf mark: TIB C 613. (Two articles chosen by the student).
Lesson mode
The course will be delivered in two terms and will follow an intensive style in which linguistic lessons proper will be supplemented by exercises as well as specific lessons on culture and civilization. The adopted Teaching Methods include: a) frontal lessons (DD1); b) laboratory experiences (DD2); c) seminars and multimedia lessons (DD3); single and group exercises (DD4); exam simulations (DD5).
