IRANIAN PHILOLOGY B

Course objectives

General goals: detailed presentation of the history of the Iranian languages and the texts written in Iranian languages. Specific goals: at the end of the course, the student (1) knows the general development trends and the documentation of the Iranian languages; 2) is able to situate single phenomena within the general framework of Iranian linguistic history; 3) is able to deal with texts in Iranian languages and the relevant secondary literature on the basis of the notions learnt in class; 4) is able to present orally and in writing arguments concerning Iranian philology also on the basis of appropriate training; 5) is able to continue one’s studies autonomously also on the basis of instructions on how to plan research projects.

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MAURO MAGGI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Widening of knowledge on Iranian historical linguistics and philology on the basis of a specific Iranian language (Old Khotanese in 2025-2026) compared with the other Iranian languages with presentation of its linguistic position, grammar, and literature with reading of texts.
Prerequisites
No special requirement.
Books
(1) R. E. Emmerick, A handbook of Khotanese, completed and ed. by M. Maggi, John S. Sheldon and Nicholas Sims Williams, Wiesbaden, Reichert, 2024. (2) R. E. Emmerick, ‘Khotanese and Tumshuqese’, in Compendium linguarum Iranicarum, hrsg. v. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: Reichert, 204-229. (3) Photocopies of Iranian texts.
Frequency
Optional attendance.
Exam mode
The oral exam focusses on all the topics covered and the texts read in the classroom, which one must be able to read, translate, and comment.
Bibliography
(1) R. E. Emmerick, Saka grammatical studies, London, Oxford University Press, 1968. (2) H. W. Bailey, Dictionary of Khotan Saka, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1979. (3) A. Degener, Khotanische Suffixe, Stuttgart, Steiner1989.
Lesson mode
Frontal lessons with discussion of the texts read in the classroom.
  • Lesson code1055615
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseOriental Languages and Cultures
  • CurriculumLingua araba
  • Year2nd year
  • Duration12 months
  • SSDL-OR/14
  • CFU6