SANSKRIT 1 MOD.2 LANGUAGE PRACTICE

The second module of the Sanskrit language 1 course is one of the characterizing courses of the first year of the INDIA e SUD-EST ASIATICO (ISEA) curriculum of the course "Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa" and aims to provide students students a basic knowledge of the written Sanskrit language, to strengthen reading and written of written texts and to develop basic linguistic-translation skills.

Its educational objectives fall within the area of learning language skills.

In particular, the educational objectives of the course are: a) consolidation of the study of the grammatical structures of the Sanskrit language learned in the first module; b) provide the linguistic skills necessary to be able to read, understand and translate simple texts written in the Sanskrit language; c) provide the skills for reading and grammatical analysis of basic level Sanskrit texts.

The teaching is part of the teachings of "Sanskrit language 1 - module 1" and provides the learning outcomes necessary to continue with the teaching of "Sanskrit language 2".

Level A2 - Elementary level
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- complete the knowledge of the grammatical structures of the Sanskrit language at an elementary level;
- complete knowledge of the Sanskrit language vocabulary at an elementary level;
- know and understand the concepts and terminology essential to describe the phenomena studied in a scientific way.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- knowing how to identify and understand the different basic grammatical categories of the Sanskrit language and their properties;
- knowing how to describe the constructions and grammatical phenomena studied during the course using correctly the terminology and the basic tools of syntactic analysis acquired;
- knowing how to interact in the communicative situations envisaged by level A2 of the CEFR;
- knowing how to understand written texts;
- be able to translate elementary level written texts from Sanskrit into Italian, following the instructions given during the course;
- perfect the ability to use the dictionary (especially Sanskrit-English) and any other useful tools for translation.

3. Making judgments:
- be able to argue elementary concepts and to produce supporting or refuting examples in the Sanskrit language;
- be able to autonomously produce translation choices on the basis of the indications provided during the course;
- be able to submit particular cases of translation problems to critical examination.

4. Communication Skills:
- ability to read and understand written texts;
- be able, during lessons and exercises, to interact with peers, with the teacher and with the CELs in a critical and respectful way.

5. Learning skills:
- be able to take notes in a pertinent and effective way;
- be able to consult the texts and reference materials suggested in the course bibliography;
- be able to develop the skills acquired to undertake higher studies and in particular to write a short report.

Basic knowledge of the Sanskrit language (consistent with the level acquired during the first module) and English (for consultancy of the dictionary).
Knowledge of the basic categories of sentence analysis.

The 2nd module of Sanskrit Language 1 aims at consolidating the grammar, vocabulary and syntax of the Sanskrit language learned during the first module. In more detail, the study of:

- consonant clusters, as far as reading is concerned;
- the external and internal sandhi;
- the nominal declension;
- the pronominal declension;
- the system of the present;
- the past participle in -TA used in a finite way to explain past events;

Particular attention will be devoted to the study of Sanskrit nominal compounds (dvandva, bahuvrīhi, tatpuruṣa, karmadhāraya and avyayībhava).

The theoretical notions provided will be applied progressively in a series of dedicated exercises, in the translation from Sanskrit into Italian of portions of prose texts, in the production of short and simple sentences in Sanskrit and sometimes even in listening to authentic material, the all partly with the help of the teacher, partly independently through the exercises to be carried out at home, which, it should be remembered, are an integral part of the course and fundamental for achieving the expected level of knowledge. Through reading, the consequent understanding and translation and, at the end of the module, listening and production, it will therefore be possible to analyze the basic structures of the Sanskrit language so as to provide the possibility of consolidating the theoretical knowledge of grammar and syntax in practical application.

Compulsory grammar:
1) M. Coulson, Sanskrit, Teach Yourself Books, 1976 (and following revised edition);
2) Maurer, W. H. The Sanskrit Language. An Introductory Grammar and Reader, Routledge, 2009 (revised edittion).

Compulsory dictionaries:
4) Monier-Williams, Monier, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford, 1872; 2ª ed., 1899 (e successive edizioni).

All other material and indications concerning further reading will be provided by the course convenor during classes.

The exam will be divided into two sessions:

1) a written session;
2) an oral session of reading, comprehension and grammar.

- frontal lessons in grammar and translation of exemplary sentences (from Sanskrit to Italian and vice versa) and short texts (from Sanskrit to Italian and vice versa), with the illustration of the rules and other linguistic components in class, all flanked by illustrative examples;

- reading, analysis and discussion in class of linguistic, literary and cultural elements extrapolated by way of example from the various texts addressed during the course;

- teaching materials (e.g. lesson slides) available on the MOODLE platform or delivered/indicated in class;

- common exercises in class;

- individual exercises to be carried out at home and delivered in class and/or uploaded weekly to the MOODLE platform.

Although attendance is not compulsory, students are warmly invited to attend lessons regularly. Non-attending students must get in touch with the teacher as soon as possible (no later than the sixth lesson if the student wants to take the exam on the first call), so as to be able to establish together the methods of execution and delivery of the exercises and the study of any other teaching materials that are distributed and/or discussed in class.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENT means a student who attends less than 10 lessons.

written and oral