ARAMAIC/SYRIAC
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS:
Y = Full-year course
H = Half-year course
F = Half-year course, offered in the fall term
S = Half-year course, offered in the spring term
MTWRF = days of the week
ANT = Department of Anthropology, 100 St. George St., 1st floor
MEI = Middle East and Islamic Studies
NES = Near Eastern Studies
RLG = Department for the Study of Religion, 123 St. George St.
ROM = Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park
NML220Y1 Introductory Aramaic (formerly NMC315Y)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the Aramaic language through selected readings and a study of grammar. Grammar will be studied with reference to Hebrew and Syriac. Because of the type of Aramaic studied, students of Akkadian and Egyptian should be interested. The course is valuable for students concentrating on Syria-Palestine.
Evaluation: Based on class participation, at least two tests, and an essay
Texts: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: Libri Danielis, Ezrae et Nehemaie
Rosenthal, F., A Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (1974)
Prerequisite: Hebrew - NMC136Y/230Y/NML150Y/NML155/156
Exclusion: NMC315Y
A. Harrak
NML320H1 Intermediate Aramaic: Targum (formerly NMC415H)
Selected texts in the Pentateuch beginning with Leviticus chapters 15 and 12 will be studied using the following Targumim: Onkelos, Pseudo- Jonathan, and Neofiti. The Samaritan and Syriac Targumim will be collated as additional references. Midrashic sources of Pseudo-Jonathan and Neofiti will be discussed. A comparative study of the Targumim will be made in reference to grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and translation strategies. Solid background in Biblical Hebrew, or Introductory Aramaic or experience with Eastern Aramaic from the Babylonian Talmud is required.
Texts: A package of texts will be provided at cost.
Evaluation: two tests (30% each), one essay (30%), active class participation (10%)
Prerequisite: NMC315Y/NML220Y or permission of instructor
Exclusion: NMC415H
T. Meacham
NML420Y1 The Jerusalem Talmud: Jewish Western Aramaic (formerly NMC416Y)
The Talmud of the land of Israel (=Talmud Yerushalmi [TY] or Palestinian Talmud [PT]) is a treasure house for all those who are interested in halakhic development, customs, history, realia, social and economic conditions, superstition, midrash, and folklore. This extensive work, written in a mixture of postbiblical (Mishnaic) Hebrew and Jewish Western Aramaic, is the principal document of the land of Israel in late antiquity (c. 400 CE). The course introduces the studentto Talmudic texts through selections from a particular tractate for representative study. The particular terminology of the legal discussions on the Mishnah will be clarified and the relationship to Tosefta will be examined. The linguistic features of this particular Aramaic dialect will become familiar to the student. The relevant dictionaries, concordances, biographies of the various sages, sources of the text, its parallels and commentaries will be important aids in study. (Offered every three years).
Evaluation: Based on preparation of texts and active class participation (10%), one essay (week 11 - 35%) and two tests (~week 5 - 30% background reading; week 13 - 25% texts).
Texts: Tractate Niddah (a packet will be provided to students at cost)
Required Background Reading:
Safrai, Shmuel (ed). The Literature of the Sages (on reserve in Robarts) - Chapters on Mishnah, Tosefta, Midreshei Halakha, Palestinian Talmud, Babylonian Talmud
Strack, Herman L. and Stemberger, Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash (on reserve in Robarts) - Chapters on Mishnah, Tosefta, Midreshei Halakha, Palestinian Talmud, Babylonian Talmud
Stevenson, W. B. Grammar of Palestinian Aramaic
Suggested Study Aids:
Jastrow, Marcus. A Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud and Midrashic Literature
Sokolof, Michael. A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Exclusion: NMC416Y
T. Meacham
NML421Y1 Classical Syriac (formerly NMC418Y)
This course is primarily a reading course in Syriac literature with reference to specific points in grammar and syntax as contrasted with Aramaic. The texts are read with reference to the history of Syriac literature. (Offered in alternate years)
Evaluation: Based on class participation (10%), one paper (30%) and two tests (60%)
Texts: Brockelmann, C., Syrische Grammatik mit Chrestomathie (1968)
Robinson, T.H., Syriac Grammar (1962)
Costas, L., Grammaire Syriaque (1955)
McCullough, W.S., A Short History of Syriac Christianity to the Rise of Islam (1982)
Wright, W., A Short History of Syriac Literature (1966)
Prerequisite: NMC315Y/NML220Y
Exclusion: NMC418Y
A. Harrak