CROATIAN


Courses in this area focus on Croatian language, literature and culture.  The language studied is used in Croatia proper and in some other republics of the region, as well in the Diaspora abroad.  Courses are offered on three levels and will meet the needs of students at the elementary (237Y), and advanced (307Y) levels.

There is a broad range of offerings in Croatian literature, folklore, and culture.  227Y is an introductory survey of Croatian cultural history for which no prior knowledge of the language is necessary.  Intermediate courses in drama, fiction and folklore (327H, 337H, 347H) require a good understanding of the language, but English translations of the readings are provided.  For the modern poetry course (407H), close readings of the original are done, and a solid grasp of the language is necessary.

In these courses emphasis is on perfecting communication skills and comprehending culture patterns. Students learn about the unique heritage of the Croats, whose homeland is located in a vital and controversial region of Europe and forms a crucial link between the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Their rich national history and traditions offer fertile ground for understanding the intricate network of cultural relations that makes up the human family.

Croatian Studies will help prepare you for language and culture related careers in: Business, Communications, Film and Theatre, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Publishing, Government, Law, Education, Travel and Tourism, Health Care, Science and Technology.

Croatian Courses 

SLA 227Y - Croatian Cultural History
Hours: 2 Hours per week
A survey of culture in literature, film and the fine arts, from the coming of the Croats to Southeastern Europe until the present. Readings in English with texts in Croatian.

SLA 237Y - Elementary Croatian Language
Hours: 4 Hours per week
Prerequisite: Open only to students with little or no knowledge of the language.
Basic phonology, morphology, and syntax of the standard literary language. Composition and oral practice.

SLA 317Y - Advanced Language
Hours: 4 Hours per week
Prerequisite: SLA 237Y
Introduction to the syntax of phrases, simple and compound sentences. Translation, composition and oral practice based on extensive reading from various authors.

SLA 327H - The Balkan Short Story
Hours: 2 Hours per week
Studies of novels and short stories written since 1950. Focus on innovative writers and current trends. Readings in the original and English.

SLA 337H - Political Drama from Dubrovnik to the Danube
Hours: 2 Hours per week
The development of theatre traditions as reflected in classic plays from the Renaissance to the present.  Readings in the original and English.

SLA 347H - South Slavic Folklore
Hours: 2 Hours per week
Historical and stylistic study of the oral epic traditions, Christian and Moslem.  The role of folklore and customs in the development of national literature. Readings in the original and English.

SLA 407H - Modern Croatian Bards
Hours: 2 Hours per week
Verse since 1900 by the major poets of the nation. Focus on the Croatian Moderna Expressionism and other avant-garde movements. Readings in Croatian and English.