Week

Course Theme

Contents & Reading Assignment

Teaching Activity & Homework

1

Middle Eastern Languages

Introduction/Linguistic diversity in the Middle East: Languages & identities

Reading assignment

Teaching activities include lecturing, discussion of reading assignments, film review and presentation. As well as group work and information sharing.

2

Historical Linguistics

Theoretical background: Terminologies and basic concepts (language reconstruction; proto-language; etc.)

Reading assignment

3

Semitic languages

Arabic as a Proto-Semitic language: proto-phonology; proto-morphology & proto-syntax

Project-1

4

The development of Arabic language

Varieties of Arabic: pre-Islamic Arabic

Reading assignment

5

The development of Arabic language

Varieties of Arabic: Arabic after Islam and diaspora/classical Arabic

Reading assignment

6

The development of Arabic language

Modern standard Arabic

Project-2

7

Introduction of Philology and Linguistics

Ural-Altai language theory and Turkic languages, a short introduction of Turkish language

Language and politics in Central Asia: in and after Soviet Union

Language and politics in Turkey after Ottoman

Presentations

8

9

10

11

12

13

The development of Arabic language: diglossia

Definition, examples and theories of origin of diglossia in Arabic.

Reading assignment

14

The development of Arabic language: diglossia

The result of Arabic diglossia; and modern linguistic situation in Middle East Arab countries.

Project-4

15

Arabic writings

The development of Arabic writing system

Reading assignment

16

Arabic writings

The development of Arabic writing system

Reading assignment

17

Arabic Arts

Modern Arabic Calligraphy

Reading assignment

18

End-of-Course Reflection

Review and term paper

Final Exam: Term Paper