General provisions

The course is given as a free-standing course. The course corresponds to the previous course Indology B.

Entry requirements

Sanskrit A

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to deepen knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, provide an introduction to Veda and to Scholastic Sanskrit and Middle Indic languages.

For the grade Pass, after completing the course the student should be able to

Module 1:

• explain the chronology, central content and literary form of the Vedic texts
• have a basic knowledge of the Vedic religion and associated ritual practices
• describe the linguistic features of the Vedic language
• master the essentials of Vedic inflectional and word formation morphology and basic syntax
• transcribe Vedic texts in Devanāgarī including accents
• analyze and translate both simple and more complex Vedic texts into Swedish
• account for different interpretations of and interpretation problems in selected Vedic texts

Module 2:

• actively master the essentials of Sanskrit morphology including word formation
• analyze more complex syntactic structures
• translate texts in epic Sanskrit and simple art poetry into Swedish at a reasonable level of style

Module 3:

Introduction to Middle Indic Language

• give an overview of the Middle Indic languages and dialects
• explain the place and distinctiveness of Pali among the Middle Indic languages
• explain the linguistic features of Middle Indic in relation to Sanskrit
• master the most important aspects of Middle Indic inflectional and word formation morphology and basic syntax
• analyze and translate both simple and more complex Middle Indic texts into Swedish at a reasonable level of style
• account for different interpretations of and interpretation problems in selected Middle Indic texts

Module 4:

Scholastic Sanskrit and the commentary tradition in ancient India

• describe different commentary genres and the history of commentary in ancient India
• identify linguistic features and commentary techniques in scholastic Sanskrit
• syntactically analyze and translate the commentary texts included in the course
• discuss the selected commentary texts from the perspective of literary, religious and intellectual history

Content

The course consists of the following modules. Modules 1 and 2 are compulsory. The student chooses, to the extent that teaching is given, one of the modules 3 and 4.

1. Introduction to Veda, 15 credits
2. Sanskrit Texts and Grammar, 7.5 credits
3. Middle Indic Language, 7.5 credits
4. Scholastic Sanskrit and the commentary tradition in ancient India, 7.5 credits

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, exercises and assessment. The student's own learning activities are of crucial importance for the work on the course.

Assessment

The course has the following assessment components:

• Module 1: continuous oral and written assignments as well as a take home exam
• Module 2: continuous oral and written assignments
• Module 3: continuous oral and written assignments
• Module 4: continuous oral and written assignments

Information on the content and format of the continuous oral and written assignments, the date of completion/submission and re-examination is given at the start of each module respectively.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other regulations

The course may not be included in the degree as a free-standing course if the corresponding part has been studied in another course included in the degree.