Unit information: Introduction to Sanskrit 1 in 2022/23

Unit name	Introduction to Sanskrit 1
Unit code	THRS20188
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Langer
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

Sanskrit is the single most important language in Indian culture. The fundamental texts of Indian religions, philosophy, law, science, poetry, drama, etc. are all composed in Sanskrit. For anyone who wishes to gain an appreciation of Indian religions and culture the study of Sanskrit is therefore of paramount importance. Indian culture itself has traditionally regarded the study of Sanskrit grammar and literature as basis of all education. Moreover, in the contemporary study of Indian religion and culture Sanskrit terminology serves as something of a "lingua franca".

The unit aims to introduce students to the basics of the Sanskrit alphabet, its vocabulary, and grammar, as a foundation for the reading of short passages of Sanskrit texts.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit student will:

1. have gained experience and practice in reading, writing and transcribing simple Sanskrit texts (both in Roman and Devanāgarī script);
2. have acquired the basic skills of analysing grammatical forms and sentence structure;
3. have some experience in translating from Sanskrit into English and vice versa;
4. be able to demonstrate a more critical approach to translations and secondary literature based on Sanskrit texts;
5. have developed a greater understanding, hence appreciation, of an important classical language and basic linguistic skills, such as handling grammar books and dictionaries as well as analytical thinking

How you will learn

2 x 2 hour seminar shared with equivalent units at levels 4 and 6

How you will be assessed

This language unit will be assessed summatively by two timed assessments testing introductory knowledge and understanding of the basic elements of the alphabet, vocabulary, and grammar of Sanskrit. Class test 1 =20% of overall unit mark; class test 2 = 80%.

ILOs 1 and 2 are tested by class test 1, and ILO’s 3-5 are tested by class test 2.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRS20188).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.