African and Asian Languages and Literatures

Wehmeyer, A.K., Chair;, Murphy, J.A., Associate Chair; Balaban, A.; Bamia, A.; Akinyemi, A.; Chennault, C.L.; Chu, C.C.; Der-Houssikian, H.; Esseesy, M.; Fresh, E.; Hasak-Lowy, T.; Hulvey, S.Y.; Ioroi, K; Katz, H.; Kotey, P.F.A.; Kubota, S.A.; Pham, H.; Rojas, C.; Undergraduate Coordinator in Chinese: C. Rojas; Undergraduate Coordinator in Japanese: J.A. Murphy; Undergraduate Coordinator in Arabic: A. Bamia; Undergraduate Coordinator in Hebrew: H. Katz.

An introductory study of the origin, composition, development, variations, and aesthetic styles of orthographic characters with laboratory sessions for appreciation and practice of calligraphic skills. (H, I)

A General Education course similar in philosophy and purpose to the basic sequence. Content selected from the philosophies, literature, arts and music of various African countries and regions. (H, I) GR-E†

A culturally based study of folktales, proverbs, drama, poetry and novels–and how these forms are used to portray African arts and ideas. (H, I)

The role of language in the development of African societies. Language and nation building. (S, I)

A comparative study of Sub-Saharan African folktales. Their typology, classification, structure, content, symbolism and aesthetics. The impact of modern cultural settings and the media on the African folktale.

Available only by special arrangement. The course can be repeated to a maximum of 10 credit hours with change of content.

In-depth study of special topics in Vietnamese Studies. It may be repeated with change of content to a maximum of 6 credits.

A survey of classical Arabic literature in translation. The course covers pre-Islamic poetry, and early Islamic poetry, Omayyad, Abbasid and Andalusian literatures. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

A survey of modern Arabic literature in translation. The course covers the Arab literary renaissance, influence of western culture, new literary genres, Maghribi literature in the 20th century. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

Introduction to Arabic culture with special reference to art, literature, religion and society. Emphasis on Arab contributions to philosophy, medicine, mathematics and architecture. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

Standard Arabic Conversation.

This course examines the role and status of Arab women in their respective societies. The course will examine the internal dynamic of Arab culture which influences the role of Arab woman. (H, I, S) GR-E†

This course is designed to bring the student to an advanced level in the speaking, hearing, reading and writing of spoken and mass communication, and literary Arabic. (H, I)

This is an advanced continuation of ARA 4400. (H, I)

This course is intended for advanced students of Arabic. Its purpose is to teach the more complex grammar, idiomatic expressions and sophisticated stylistic forms of the language. Required for the Arabic minor.

This course will focus on a contrastive analysis of the dialect selected and standard Arabic in the areas of morphology and syntax.

Insight into the major properties of the Arabic language in the areas of syntax, morphology and sociolinguistics.

This course is designed to be one of the core courses in the newly created major, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, offered through Interdisciplinary Studies. The nature of this course, however, makes it useful for other audiences, for example, students in Linguistics, Religion, Hebrew, Arabic, and Jewish Studies.

Course materials are designed for learners with no prior exposure to the language. Students with native background or education for four years or more in a Chinese speaking country must enroll in another Chinese language course at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Focuses on developing language skills & protocol issues used in Chinese business environments. Students will acquire vocabulary, phrases & sentence patterns essential for business transactions & develop oral presentations, business cards & resumes.

An introduction to Chinese culture with emphasis on its philosophy, language, society, art and people as a whole. All readings in English. (H, I)

An introduction to phonological, grammatical and discourse structures of Mandarin Chinese, with an emphasis on its contrastive aspects with English. (S, I)

This includes all the individual study courses offered by the Chinese section. It may be repeated with change of content for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Proseminar of variable content providing an opportunity for in-depth study of special topics in Chinese Studies. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits.

An introduction to pre-modern Chinese literature in translation. Topics to be chosen from classical poetry, short stories, novels and drama. Emphasis is on the interplay between orthodox values and the folk tradition. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

This course explores pre-modern Chinese narrative from its philosophical and historical origins to the fiction at the turn of the 20^th century. Emphasis will be laid on 16^th and 17^th centuries when Chinese vernacular fiction flourished. (H, I)

A survey of modern Chinese fiction in translation. Samples are from the early 20th Century through the contemporary era, and include writers of the early Republic, the P.R.C. and Taiwan. Focus is on fiction as a vehicle for social change. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

Explores the intellectual and social life of traditional China through the 18th century epic novel, Story of the Stone, which is acknowledged the greatest masterpiece of Chinese fiction. Interpretive theories of the novel, both Chinese and Western, will also be studied. Readings are in English. (H, S, I) GR-E†

An introduction to classical Chinese prose, with texts drawn mainly from early histories and philosophical writings (500 BC-AD100). Emphasis on reading comprehension, grammar analysis and translation.

The course introduces advanced language students to a sampling of Chinese writers. Materials chosen from classic or modern/contemporary Chinese literature rotated across semesters. All readings in Chinese (H, I)

The aim is to acquire the ability to understand and translate the documentary prose style used in Chinese newspapers and academic journals. Introduces literary function words and grammar structures, with comparison to the vernacular. Most readings in the simplified character form used in the PRC; all readings in Chinese. Applications for research on modern China.

A placement test will be given during the first class meeting.

This course introduces the structure of the original Hebrew text of the Bible, the Hebrew alphabet and basic grammar of Biblical Hebrew.

Readings in Israeli fiction from the 1940s to the 1970s. Topics include stories of childhood, war, the kibbutz, images of the Arab, women, the Holocaust, nostalgia and social change. (H,I) GR-E†

Readings in modern Hebrew texts, both short fiction and poetry, geared to the third-year student. A study of the literature is emphasized though some language work is done to aid reading comprehension. Texts are in Hebrew; language of instruction is Hebrew.

This course is a continuation of HBT 3200. A variety of Hebrew texts, both fiction and poetry, are presented. The selections are more contemporary and include recently published stories and poems taken from current Israeli literary periodicals. Language of instruction is Hebrew.

Designed to introduce students to the formal and historical features of Japanese film that have given it a unique position in film history. Emphasis is on formal and critical analysis, as well as the intellectual stakes in studying non-Western film. (Cross-listed with ENG 4135)

Analysis of variation in the regional dialects, gender-based differences, pragmatics of inter-personal communication, language acquisition and discourse structure. (S, I)

Linguistic analysis of modern standard Japanese. Topics covered include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and writing. Readings and discussions in English. (S, I)

Available only by special arrangement. May be replaced with change of content for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Proseminar of variable content providing an opportunity for in-depth study of special topics in Japanese studies.

Student selects a Japanese faculty member to act as director for an independent research project which culminates in the preparation of an honors thesis.

An investigation of literary texts from the eighth through the seventeenth-centuries presented within the framework of Western literary and feminist criticism. (H, I) GR-E†

A critical examination of Stories, autobiographies and secondary criticism from the nineteenth century to the present. Students will become familiar with the forms and topic of criticism through both Japanese and Western Sources. (H, I) GR-E†

This is a companion course to JPT 3120 reflecting the increasing clarity with which "contemporary" Japanese Literature (1945-present) is emerging as a separate field with its own specific set of issues, major texts, and significance for the American student of Japan. Writers range from Dazai and Oe Kenzaburo to Murakami Haruki, issues range from subjectivity to cybernetics.

A critical investigation of the vernacular masterpieces written by women of the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura periods (1185-1333) explored from a feminist literary perspective. (H,I)

An exploration of selected texts by modern women writers supported by readings on feminist literary criticism. (H,I)

An historical survey of poetry beginning with the classical period and ending with contemporary examples analyzed with the incorporation of gender issues within poetics. (H,I)

An introduction to the question of culture with emphasis on tracing the origin and development of important aspects of Japanese literature, art, religion and society. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

Study of native belief systems and the supernatural as reflected in the folk practice of ritual observance, and in tales, myths, songs and proverbs. (H, I)

A fourth-year language course based on literary texts, incorporating advanced reading skills and the analysis of literature in the original. (H, I)

This course is designed as a complement to JPW 4130 (Reading Japanese Literature) with a focus on contemporary issues as encountered in a variety of Japanese media.

To read and write in Xhosa and have a basic understanding in pronunciation, grammar and culture.

This course introduces the student to the scope and importance of Yoruba culture in the New World, its role and significance in the resilience of African cultures in North America, South America and the Caribbean. GR-E†

This course provides an overview of the various genres of Yoruba oral literature. It stresses the importance of the spoken word in Yoruba culture, the training of Yoruba verbal artists and their place in Yoruba society. (H)