66954 - Armenian Language and Culture (1)

Academic Year 2023/2024

  • Docente: Anna Sirinian
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: L-OR/13
  • Language: Italian

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have a basic knowledge of Armenian language and literature; they will have a theoretical and methodological basis and the language skills to interpret artworks and literature. They will be aware of how Armenian culture ties up and interacts with other cultures historically and geographically. They will have learnt to listen respectfully to different viewpoints, spot tie-ups with different disciplines and discuss subjects effectively with suitable bibliographic references.

Course contents

The course will introduce the Armenian history, civilisation and language. The study of the alphabet (signs and sounds), of the rudiments of the ancient language (grabar) and of the main phases of its evolution (medieval and modern Armenian, in its two eastern and western branches) will be proposed. Particular attention will be paid to the first literary authors (5th-6th century), of whom some passages in Italian translation will be read. Students will also deal with the grammatical analysis and translation of a short text in grabar using dictionaries, both paper and digital. Monographic topic: The History of the Armenians by Faustus of Byzantium (5th century) and its excellent protagonists: kings, patriarchs and generals.

Attendance at the lessons is strongly recommended. Those students who cannot attend the course for exceptional reasons, are invited to contact the lecturer at least six months before the exam.

Starting date of the lessons: Wednesday 20 September 2023.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for attending students:

1) G. Uluhogian, Gli armeni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009 (rep. 2013 and 2015);

2) P‘awstos Buzand. Storia degli Armeni, ed. by G. Uluhogian, translation by M. Bais and L.D. Nocetti, notes by M. Bais, Mimesis, Milano 1997 (the edition is sold out, but it is available for photocopies or digital reproduction at the "Giorgio R. Franci" Library, via Zamboni 33);

3) D. van Damme, A Short Classical Armenian Grammar, Second corrected edition, Fribourg-Göttingen 1978 (the edition is sold out, but it is available for photocopies or digital reproduction at the "Giorgio R. Franci" Library, via Zamboni 33);

4) photocopies distributed during the lessons;

5) texts in electronic format published on Virtuale.

Bibliography for non-attending students:

Non-attending students are requested to follow the instructions previously expressed. They will complement the study of the following volumes:

1) G. Uluhogian, Gli armeni, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009 (rep. 2013 and 2015)

2) P‘awstos Buzand. Storia degli Armeni, ed. by G. Uluhogian, translation by M. Bais and L.D. Nocetti, notes by M. Bais, Mimesis, Milano 1997

with materials related to the study of Armenian literature, language and grammar agreed with the lecturer.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons; exercises for reading and writing the Armenian letters; exercises of grammatical analysis and translation of a short passage from ancient Armenian.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The exam will be conducted orally and will assess the student's command of the material presented during the course (both cultural and linguistic matters), or referred to in the bibliography. The student can also be asked to write single words or grammatical elements using the Armenian alphabet.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an ability to summarise, compare to each other and critically discuss topics raised in the course, including the linguistic elements.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

Training gaps and / or inappropriate language will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency.

Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the materials offered during the course will lead to failed assessments.

Notice reserved for Master's degree students of the course 75680 - ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 1A (LM)

This 6 CFU course can be chosen as a part of the 12 CFU Integrated Course "Armenian Language and Literature I (C.I.) (LM)". If the student has the Integrated Course (12 CFU) in his/her study plan, the final grade will result from the arithmetic average of the marks obtained in the two parts ("Armenian Language and Literature 1A (LM)" and "Armenian Language and Literature 1B (LM)").

Teaching tools


Blackboard, photocopies and power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Sirinian

SDGs

Reduced inequalities

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.