Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the Persian alphabet, phonology, morphology, and basic syntax, in relation to reading, writing and translating basic sentences. Students with any prior knowledge or experience in Persian beyond the level of this course may not register in this course. Students who have taken LANG 118-3 with this topic may not take this course for further credit. Equivalent Courses: LANG118

COURSE DETAILS:

NOTE: PERS 100 is an introductory course designed for students with no background in the Persian language. This course cannot be taken for credit by native Persian speakers. Students who have received permission but are discovered to have a control of the Persian language beyond the content of this course will be required to withdraw.

Students who are unsure about their language level or are not sure if this class is appropriate for them should contact the course chair to arrange a placement interview: rmehri@sfu.ca

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

An Indo-European language, related to English, French, German, and Russian, but written in an Arabic script, ‘Persian’ is the term used to refer to both the ancient and modern language of Persia, Iran (Persian/Farsi), Tajikestan (Tajiki), and Afghanistan (Dari). Persian is one of the major languages of the contemporary Middle East. It is spoken throughout Iran and over large areas of Caucasus, Afghanistan; and one of its branches, Tajik, is widely current in Central Asia. In the early modern period, it was the lingua franca for the educated élite in the Indian sub-continent and is still taught in communities there. Its literature contains some of the finest epic and lyric poetry and its general intellectual and artistic contribution to Islamic culture is unmatched. Ever since the ninth century when Persian (or Farsi) evolved, there has been little discrepancy between the spoken and written languages.

In structure it is an Indo- European language and therefore relatively easy to learn. Indeed, even in the space of an undergraduate course, it is possible to attain a good command of classical and modern Persian and to express oneself clearly and accurately in the language. There are none of the difficulties of a multiplicity of dialects or of a great chasm between classical and modern. For these reasons it is a sensible choice of subject for an undergraduate to make, since a thorough grounding can quickly be established from which the more challenging aspects of a different literature and culture can be explored. ‘Introduction to Persian I’ enables students to learn the Persian alphabet, phonology, morphology, and the basic syntax. They also learn reading, writing, and translating basic sentences. References to Persian culture will accentuate understanding of the language.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: