AZERBAIJANI LANGUAGE

The course Azeri/Azerbaijanian language belongs to the BA program “Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean Africa” (Near and Middle East) and intends to provide students with the basic notions concerning a) the linguistic structure of the Azeri/Azerbaijanian language, including its phonological, morphological and syntactical aspects, b) Azeri dialectology and c) Old Azeri.

Objectives of the courses are: 1) to acquire knowledge of the phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax of the Azerbaijanian language, the official language of Azerbaijan 2) knowledge of Azeri dialectology and c) knowledge of Old Azeri.

Students will gradually acquire knowledge of the fundamental elements of the Azerbaijanian language (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and lexical stratification) and reach level A2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of reference for knowledge of languages). Student will also acquire knowledge of Azeri sociolinguistics, Azeri dialectology and Old Azeri.

There are no entry qualifications for this course.

During the lessons, the following topics will be discussed:

-Alphabet and pronunciation, nominal and verbal morphology (derivational and inflectional), sentence structure (syntax) of Azerbaijanian
-Azeri dialectology
-Azeri sociolinguistics
- Old Azerbaijanian (Ajemi Turkic)

Besides the materials provided by the professor, the following books and articles will be used:

Bulut, C. 2018. The Turkic varieties of Iran. In: Haig, Geoffrey & Khan Geoffrey (eds.) The Languages and Linguistics of Western Asia: An areal perspective (The World of Linguistics 6). Berlin & Boston. 398-444.
Csató, É. Á. & Johanson, L. & Róna-Tas, A. & Utas, B. 2016. Turks and Iranians: Interactions in language and history (Turcologica 105). Wiesbaden.
Dehghani, Y. 2000. A grammar of Iranian Azari: including comparisons with Persian (LINCOM studies in Asian linguistics 30.) München.
Fierman, W. & Garibova, J. 2010. Central Asia and Azerbaijan. In: Fishman, J. A. & García, O. (eds.) Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity. Oxford. 423-451.
Hatcher, L. 2008. Script change in Azerbaijan: acts of identity. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 192, 105-116.
Gandjei, T. 1992. Turkish in the Ṣafavid court of Iṣfahān. Turcica XXI-XXIII, 311-318.
Garibova, J. 2009. Language Policy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan: Political Aspects.
International Journal of the Sociology of Language 198, 7-32.
Johanson, L. 1997. A grammar of the “lingua turcica agemica”. In: Kellner-Heinkele, B. & Zieme, P. (eds.) Studia Ottomanica. Festgabe für György Hazai zum 65. Geburtstag. (Veröffentlichungen der Societas Uralo-Altaica 47.) Wiesbaden. 87–101.
Johanson, L. & Bulut, C. (eds.) 2006. Turkic-Iranian contact areas. Historical and linguistic aspects (Turcologica 62). Wiesbaden.
Landau, J. M. & Kellner-Heinkele, B. 2001. Politics of language in the ex-Soviet Muslim States: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Ann Arbor.
Perry, J. 1996. Persian in the Safavid Period: Sketch for an Etat de Langue. Pembroke Papers 4 (1996), 269-83.
Perry, J. 2001. The historical role of Turkish in relation to Persian of Iran. Iran & the Caucasus 5 (2001), 193-200.
Ragagnin, E. 2016. Mongolic loanwords in Azerbaijanian: an areal view. Turkologiya 2016/2, 19-26.
Rahmati, N. & Buğday, K. 1998. Aserbaidschanisch: Lehrbuch. Unter Berücksichtigung des Nord- und Südaserbaidschanischen. Wiesbaden.
Schönig, C. 1998. Azerbaijanian. In: Johanson, L. & Csató, É. Á. (eds.) The Turkic languages. London & New York. 248-260.
Širaliev, M. Š. 1983. Dialekty i govory azerbajdžanskogo jazyka. Baky.
Širaliev, M. Š. & Sevortjan, Ė. V. 1971. Grammatika azerbajdžanskogo jazyka (fonetika, morfologija i sintaksis). Baky.
Stein, H. (ed.) 2014. Turkic language in Iran – past and present (Turcologica 100). Wiesbaden.
Sultanzade, V. 2009. Turkish-Azerbaijani dictionary of interlingual homonyms and paronyms. (Lincom Studies in Asian Linguistics 75). München.

The examination is oral and will focus on the topics covered in the course, starting with the analysis of a text.

oral

Grades range from 18 to 30 with honours

17 FAIL

18-20 PASS

Limited comprehension of notions, limited skill of exposition and reflection, no critical capacity

21-23 SATISFACTORY

Sufficient comprehension of notions presented in an unclear and reflexive manner; difficulties in elaborating, and synthesizing ideas

24-26 GOOD

Good comprehension of notions but limited capacity of exposition, reflection, and synthesis

27-28 VERY GOOD

In-depth comprehension of notions that are presented in a clear and articulated manner; remarkable synthesizing capacity and critical reflection

29-30 VERY GOOD

Broad and in-depth comprehension of notions that are presented in an articulated and sophisticated manner. Excellent ability in exposing ideas synthetically, and critical ability

30 CUM LAUDE EXCELLENT

Broad and in-depth comprehension of notions showing an advanced knowledge of broader disciplinary and interdisciplinary debates, a mastery of academic language, and a capacity for original and critical thinking

Frontal classes complemented by regular reading and translation sessions involving students’ active participation.

Students are strongly advised to attend classes regularly