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HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
1st degree (Bachelor)
Responsible Department:
hebrew language
Semester:
1st Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Prof. David Bunis
Coordinator Office Hours:
By mail or telephone appointment.
Teaching Staff:
Prof David Bunis
Course/Module description:
A broad introduction to the unique languages which have arisen among the Jews from antiquity into the modern era. We will briefly outline the linguistic history of the Jews, grapple with the problem of defining Jewish languages, and review the rise of Jewish language research as an academic field. We will then focus on the principal structural and sociolinguistic characteristics of Jewish languages, including the names for the languages; their Hebrew-letter and other spelling systems; Hebrew-Aramaic and other stock components; historical, regional, social-level, and stylistic variants; literary use; and the efforts which have been put forth to document, standardize, maintain and propagate Jewish languages. We will also consider additional sociolinguistic issues such as speakers’ attitudes toward the languages, competition with other languages, and symptoms of language death and as well as revitalization. We will conclude with an evaluation of the present state of Jewish languages, and a prognosis for their future.
Course/Module aims:
To familiarize participants with the Jewish language phenomenon, those features shared by Jewish languages and those distinguishing them, and the present and future of Jewish languages.
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
On completion of this module students should have a greater awareness and understanding of the Jewish language phenomenon and of the major Jewish languages of the modern era.
Attendance requirements(%):
100%
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Frontal lessons aided by PowerPoint and other pedagogical techniques
Course/Module Content:
-linguistic history of the Jews
- the problem of defining Jewish languages
- the rise of Jewish language research as an academic field
- principal structural and sociolinguistic characteristics of Jewish languages: * names for the languages
* Hebrew-letter and other spelling systems
* Hebrew-Aramaic and other stock components
* historical, regional, social-level, and stylistic variants
* literary and cryptic use
* efforts to document, standardize, maintain and propagate Jewish languages
- additional sociolinguistic issues such as speakers’ attitudes toward the languages, competition with other languages, and symptoms of language death and as well as revitalization. * evaluation of the present state of Jewish languages, and a prognosis for their future.
Required Reading:
To be assigned by the instructor
Additional Reading Material:
-
Grading Scheme :
Additional information:
-
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