Oriental languages and civilizations

The second year of Hindi language course (“Hindi 2”) is comprised of two parallel educational routes, respectively directed by the teacher prof. Milanetti and by the native speaker(s). The first route, that focuses on written language and texts, is divided in three phases. In the first phase (weeks 1 to 18), students will be introduced to further elements of Hindi grammar: expressions of time; completive and intensifying auxiliaries; selected idiomatic uses and sentences; other auxiliary verbs; relative-correlative constructions; conjunctions and adverbs; combined verbs; causative verbs; passive verbal forms; present and past participles. Overall, the grammar course is based on the chapters 12 to 21 of the reference book (G. Milanetti, T. Gupta, "Corso di Lingua Hindi", Hoepli, Milano 2008, see Bibliography). During the second phase (weeks 4 to 18), which partially overlaps with the first one, students will read, analyse, translate and critically evaluate a few narrative texts, or parts of them. Texts (by authors such as Jainendra Kumar, Premchand, J.Prasad, etc.) will be selected by the teacher and will be characterized by growing difficulties. The third phase (weeks 19 to 21) will mainly focus on program-based exercises and preparation tests. This learning unit will enable students to specifically increase their productive skills regarding written texts (reading, understanding, analysing, translating, discussing), in both Hindi-Italian and Italian-Hindi contexts. The second learning unit is also divided in three phases, that broadly correspond to those of the first unit. During the first phase (weeks 1 to 18), students will orally train in the same grammatical topics than those studied within the first learning unit. During the second phase (weeks 4 to 18) students will develop their skills in listening, understanding, speaking, and interacting on topics regarding (a) daily life situations, (b) working situations, (3) social, political, and cultural issues on contemporary India. The third phase (weeks 19 to 21) will mainly focus on program based exercises and preparation tests. This learning unit will enable students to specifically increase their productive skills regarding oral language (understanding, Hindi lexicon and phraseology, presentation of selected topics, debates with multiple speakers), within contexts where Hindi is the sole communication medium, as in role-playing, composition and recitation of poems, simulation of daily experiences, etc. For the most part, learning activities will take place in linguistic laboratories, where movies, documentary films and other audio-video material will also be presented and analysed. Thanks to the seminars and the conferences that are regularly organized by the teaching staff, students will also reach a fair level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture and society. The annual workload, that amounts to 114 hours, is divided in 42 hours as classroom learning with prof. Milanetti and 72 hours as integrative exercises and training activities in linguistic laboratories with the native speaker(s).

Hindi language - level A1/A2 as per the classification of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Students shall have passed the prescribed exam Hindi language I or an exam of comparable level.

The reference book valid for the full year is: G.Milanetti, S.T. Gupta, Corso di Lingua Hindi, Hoepli 2008, chapters 13 to 21. I semester: Chapters 13 to 17, with written and oral exercises. II semester: Chapters 18 to 21, with written and oral exercises. Texts for translation: L.P. Mishra, Italy kī lok’kathāeṃ, Rajpal and Sons, Delhi, 1985; Jainendra Kumar, Jainendr kī sarvaśreṣṭha kahaniyāṃ, Purvoday Prakashan, Delhi 1983; Premchand, Subhāgī aur anya kahāniyāṃ, Kishor sahitya mala, Allahabad 1985. Bibliography: Y.Kachru, R.Pandharipande, Intermediate Hindi, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi 1990; R.S.McGregor, Outline of Hindi Grammar, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1987; S. Sandahl, A Hindi Reference Grammar, Peeters, Leuven 2000.

Students who will attend less than a half of the programmed classes, are advised to contact the teachers in order to agree upon a specific learning program.

The language course “Hindi 2” provides for two final examinations – a non-verbalized written test and an oral exam – which aim at assessing the students’ learning outcomes. Written test will be based on the teaching program such as described in the specific section. This test will last three hrs. and will assess: (a) the level of competence that has been acquired as regards written language (knowledge of grammar, composition of written texts by using appropriate terms and structures, translation skills); (b) the capacity to understand and respond to texts written in Hindi drawn from a variety of sources, (c) the capacity to give information and to logically organise arguments and ideas when composing written texts. The outcome of the written test will be evaluated ‘idoneo’ (‘adequate’) or ‘non idoneo’ (‘not adequate’). In order to be admitted to the oral test and pass the full examination, students are required to achieve the prescribed ‘idoneo’ (‘adequate’) level. Oral exam will be based on the teaching program such as described in the specific section. This exam will assess: (a) the level of competence that has been acquired as regards oral language (knowledge of grammar, listening, understanding, composition of complex oral sentences by using appropriate terms and structures); (b) the capacity to give information and to logically organise arguments and ideas when orally replying to specific questions; (c) students’ knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture and society. The results of the oral test will correspond to the final evaluation, which will be expressed in thirties (according to the Italian grading system).

The language course “Hindi 2” is based on two different teaching methodologies, which are instrumental in achieving the training objectives and tailored to the contents of the teaching program. The annual workload, that amounts to 114 hours, is divided in 42 hours as classroom learning with prof. Milanetti and 72 hours as integrative exercises and training activities in linguistic laboratories with the native speaker(s). The course has been planned in order that the training objectives will be reached not so much through specific modules or methodologies, as by the integration of the different teaching techniques. This integration (that combines classroom learning, integrative exercises and activities, and activities in linguistic laboratories) represents in fact one of the basic elements of the teaching methodology that has been applied and implemented by prof. Milanetti and his staff since a long time. It must be noted that the above-mentioned category of integrative exercises and activities is comprised also of the conferences and the seminars thanks to which – as indicated in the section on learning objectives – students will be able to reach a fair level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture and society. This in turn will strengthen their operating skills in the ultimate perspective of their employment or self-employment in various professional domains.