14364

(Lk) Damascene Arabic

Maciej Klimiuk

Comments

Damascene Arabic is one of the most important dialects of the Levantine Arabic group (Syria, Palestine/Israel, Lebanon, Jordan). Its knowledge enables relatively free communication within the dialect group and sometimes also outside it. At the same time, it is one of the best documented Arabic dialects and is of great importance for dialectological research, both culturally and linguistically. The course introduces participants to the dialect in detail by learning vocabulary and grammar and practising conversation. Particularly important is the reading of texts ranging from very simple to increasingly difficult and complex texts as their linguistic and grammatical skills increase. It should be noted that ‘text’ here is understood in the sense of cultural studies and thus as a ‘cultural text’, so that in addition to texts in scientific transcription, sound recordings or films are also used. The individual lessons are supplemented by grammatical explanations. During the semester, we will discuss the most important grammatical structures of the dialect in terms of phonology, morphology and syntax. In discussing these structures, we will also draw on our previous knowledge of linguistics and comparative studies of Semitic languages. As the reading involves intensive reading of texts, we will also pay attention to our pronunciation, which we will practise and improve. close

Suggested reading

Participants will be provided with class materials, which are based on the following literature: Aldoukhi, Rima, Stephan Procházka, and Anna Telic. 2014a. Lehrbuch des Syrisch-Arabischen 1: Praxisnaher Einstieg in den Dialekt von Damaskus. 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. Aldoukhi, Rima, Stephan Procházka, and Anna Telic. 2014b. Lehrbuch des Syrisch-Arabischen 2: Damaszenisch für Fortgeschrittene. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. Aldoukhi, Rima, Stephan Procházka, and Anna Telic. 2016. Lehrbuch des Syrisch-Arabischen 1: Praxisnaher Einstieg in den Dialekt von Damaskus. 2 ed. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. Berlinches Ramos. 2016. El dialecto árabe de Damasco (Siria): estudio gramatical y textos. Zaragoza: Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza. Bloch, Ariel, and Heinz Grotzfeld. 1964. Damaszenisch-arabische Texte mit Übersetzung, Anmerkungen und Glossar. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner. Cowell, Mark W. 1964. A Reference Grammar of Syrian Arabic (Based on the Dialect of Damascus). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Grotzfeld, Heinz. 1964. Laut- und Formenlehre des Damaszenisch-Arabischen. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner. Grotzfeld, Heinz. 1965. Syrisch-Arabische Grammatik (Dialekt von Damaskus). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. Klimiuk, Maciej. 2013. Phonetics and Phonology of Damascus Arabic. Warsaw: Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Warsaw. Klimiuk, Maciej. 2022. ‘Living in Bab Tuma: Two Texts in Damascene Arabic’. In Semitic Dialects and Dialectology: Fieldwork—Community—Change, edited by Maciej Klimiuk. Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing. close

16 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Thu, 12:00 - 14:00 16 Class schedule

Thu, 2024-10-17 12:00 - 14:00

Lecturers:
Prof. Dr. Maciej Klimiuk