Oriental Languages and Cultures

The MA language course “Hindi Language and Literature A” is comprised of two specialized educational itineraries, respectively directed by the teacher prof. Milanetti and by the native speaker dr. Kumari. The first one is divided in two modules. The first one focuses on the analysis, translation, and critical appraisal of pages by modern and contemporary authors. These texts are characterized by an elevated linguistic and stylistic complexness. In the current academic year 2021-22, students will critically analyze new large sections of novels by authors of the ‘50s and ‘60s (first semester), and of other narrative and scholarly texts (second semester, see also Bibliography). Building on these activities, and on a specific introduction to the theory of translation, students will also prepare literary translations of the texts analysed, which will be evaluated during the oral exam. Acquiring competencies in literary translation will allow students (a) to reply to the growing request for such professional specialization; and (b) to develop advanced skills in the field of linguistic, conceptual and stylistic analysis of a written text, in both the origin and the destination language, which will be usefully employed also in contexts different from the specific discipline. In the second module, that will be held during the second semester, students will study materials relating to early-modern Indian languages and literatures. They will be trained in reading, critically evaluating, translating and framing in their socio-cultural contexts, literary texts of the period ca. 1950-1975. This will also allow students to better understand some of the processes and dynamics which have shaped the cultural identity of modern and contemporary India. Building on selected teaching tools, the second learning unit will specifically focus on developing high-level operating skills in the field of spoken Hindi. Student will take part in training sessions both individual and collective where specific issues regarding the culture and society of modern India will be debated in Hindi. Emphasis will be given to understanding and orally translating audio-video materials, such as conferences, songs, movie clips, tv programs, touristic documentaries, with a view to developing those professional skills that today are particularly requested. A specific section will focus on the analysis of programs of automatic translations, both written and oral, based on IA. For the most part, these learning activities will take place in linguistic laboratories. Thanks to the specialized seminars and conferences that are regularly organized by the teaching staff, students will also reach a high level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture, society, and economy. Student will consequently develop excellent operating skills in currently strategic sectors. 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 B2 as per the classification of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Students shall have achieved the required number of ECTS credits during their BA course in accordance with the regulation of the MA course “Oriental Languages and Civilisations”

The text valid for the yearly course is: G.Milanetti, La lotta, il desiderio, la parola: le inquietudini letterarie dell'India di lingua Hindi, ed. Fuorilinea, Monterotondo (RM). Other texts will be proposed by the teacher on the basis of the Bibliography indicated below.

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 MA language course “Hindi language and literature A” 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, specialised translation skills); (b) the capacity to logically organise arguments and ideas, to advance reasons for supporting one’s views, and to critically reply to the views of others 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 (composition of complex oral sentences and speeches by using appropriate terms, idiomatic sentences, linguistic registers and syntactical structures); (b) the capacity to logically organise arguments and ideas, to advance reasons for supporting one’s views, and to critically reply to the views of others when using oral language; (c) students’ knowledge on specialised 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).

Bibliography: Gupta, Bhairav Prasad (1984), Gaṅgā Maiyā, Lokbharti Prakashan, Ilahabad (1a ed. 1952). Kamleshvar (2011), Ek saṛak sattāvan galiyāṃ, Rajpal and Sons, Dilli (1a ed. 1956). Reṇu, Phanishvarnath (2002), Mailā āňcal, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli (1a ed. 1954). Sobti, Krishna (2006), Mitro Mar’jānī, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli (1a ed. 1967). Varma, Bhagvati Charan (2001), Bhagvatīcaraṇ Varmā. Racconti, a cura di Alessandra Consolaro, A Oriente!, Milano 2001. Varma, Bhagvati Charan (2011), Rākh aur cin’gārī, in Id., Bhagavatī Caraṇ Varmā kī sampūrṇ kahāniyāṃ, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli, pp. 219-228 (1a ed. 1981).

The MA language course “Hindi Language and Literature A” is based on three 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. The course has been designed 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 specialized seminars and conferences that – as indicated in the section on learning objectives – are regularly organized by the teaching staff. Thanks to these activities students will reach a high level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture, society, and economy. Student will consequently develop excellent operating skills in currently strategic sectors within the framework of the Indo-Italian economic exchange, such as tourism, cinema and television production, cultural and diplomatic relations, specialized translation for cinema and television, etc. 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 MA language course “Hindi Language and Literature A” is comprised of two specialized educational itineraries, respectively directed by the teacher prof. Milanetti and by the native speaker dr. Kumari. The first one is divided in two modules. The first one focuses on the analysis, translation, and critical appraisal of pages by modern and contemporary authors. These texts are characterized by an elevated linguistic and stylistic complexness. In the current academic year 2021-22, students will critically analyze new large sections of novels by authors of the ‘50s and ‘60s (first semester), and of other narrative and scholarly texts (second semester, see also Bibliography). Building on these activities, and on a specific introduction to the theory of translation, students will also prepare literary translations of the texts analysed, which will be evaluated during the oral exam. Acquiring competencies in literary translation will allow students (a) to reply to the growing request for such professional specialization; and (b) to develop advanced skills in the field of linguistic, conceptual and stylistic analysis of a written text, in both the origin and the destination language, which will be usefully employed also in contexts different from the specific discipline. In the second module, that will be held during the second semester, students will study materials relating to early-modern Indian languages and literatures. They will be trained in reading, critically evaluating, translating and framing in their socio-cultural contexts, literary texts of the period ca. 1950-1975. This will also allow students to better understand some of the processes and dynamics which have shaped the cultural identity of modern and contemporary India. Building on selected teaching tools, the second learning unit will specifically focus on developing high-level operating skills in the field of spoken Hindi. Student will take part in training sessions both individual and collective where specific issues regarding the culture and society of modern India will be debated in Hindi. Emphasis will be given to understanding and orally translating audio-video materials, such as conferences, songs, movie clips, tv programs, touristic documentaries, with a view to developing those professional skills that today are particularly requested. A specific section will focus on the analysis of programs of automatic translations, both written and oral, based on IA. For the most part, these learning activities will take place in linguistic laboratories. Thanks to the specialized seminars and conferences that are regularly organized by the teaching staff, students will also reach a high level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture, society, and economy. Student will consequently develop excellent operating skills in currently strategic sectors. 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 B2 as per the classification of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Students shall have achieved the required number of ECTS credits during their BA course in accordance with the regulation of the MA course “Oriental Languages and Civilisations”

The text valid for the yearly course is: G.Milanetti, La lotta, il desiderio, la parola: le inquietudini letterarie dell'India di lingua Hindi, ed. Fuorilinea, Monterotondo (RM). Other texts will be proposed by the teacher on the basis of the Bibliography indicated below.

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 MA language course “Hindi language and literature A” 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, specialised translation skills); (b) the capacity to logically organise arguments and ideas, to advance reasons for supporting one’s views, and to critically reply to the views of others 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 (composition of complex oral sentences and speeches by using appropriate terms, idiomatic sentences, linguistic registers and syntactical structures); (b) the capacity to logically organise arguments and ideas, to advance reasons for supporting one’s views, and to critically reply to the views of others when using oral language; (c) students’ knowledge on specialised 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).

Bibliography: Gupta, Bhairav Prasad (1984), Gaṅgā Maiyā, Lokbharti Prakashan, Ilahabad (1a ed. 1952). Kamleshvar (2011), Ek saṛak sattāvan galiyāṃ, Rajpal and Sons, Dilli (1a ed. 1956). Reṇu, Phanishvarnath (2002), Mailā āňcal, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli (1a ed. 1954). Sobti, Krishna (2006), Mitro Mar’jānī, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli (1a ed. 1967). Varma, Bhagvati Charan (2001), Bhagvatīcaraṇ Varmā. Racconti, a cura di Alessandra Consolaro, A Oriente!, Milano 2001. Varma, Bhagvati Charan (2011), Rākh aur cin’gārī, in Id., Bhagavatī Caraṇ Varmā kī sampūrṇ kahāniyāṃ, Rajkamal Prakashan, Nai Dilli, pp. 219-228 (1a ed. 1981).

The MA language course “Hindi Language and Literature A” is based on three 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. The course has been designed 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 specialized seminars and conferences that – as indicated in the section on learning objectives – are regularly organized by the teaching staff. Thanks to these activities students will reach a high level of knowledge on major issues regarding contemporary Indian culture, society, and economy. Student will consequently develop excellent operating skills in currently strategic sectors within the framework of the Indo-Italian economic exchange, such as tourism, cinema and television production, cultural and diplomatic relations, specialized translation for cinema and television, etc. 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.