ARAB 4007/6007

Introduction to Islamic Arabic

ARAB 4107/6107 - Professor Honerkamp

Classroom: Peabody Hall. Rm. 205C

Time: 9:05 - 10:55 Mon. – Wed. - Friday

E-mail: hnrkmp@uga.edu

Office: Rm. 200 Peabody Hall

Office hours: Wed. 11:15 to 1:00, or by appointment

Text: Required: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W.M. Thackston, Part One Lessons 1 – 20 should be purchased with Key. You will also need the Arabic-English Dictionary by Hans Wehr and A Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran by John Penrice.

Goals of the class: An intense overview and in-depth review of Arabic grammar towards attaining fluency in the reading of Islamic texts using all previously learned structures, vocabulary and the verbs in both the past and present, including the derived forms II through X. There will also be increased efforts towards learning to speak in Arabic about Islamic concepts and to comprehend the key elements of the Islamic textual heritage, specifically the Quran and Hadith with the accompanying commentary literature. The student will also be expected to read, memorize, pronounce correctly, and recite these texts in class in Arabic, as well as to discuss these texts in both English and to some degree in Arabic.

Method: Traditional lecture and discussion with memorization of short chapters of the Quran and certain hadiths that are crucial for comprehending Islam’s worldview. Grammar and translation exercises will focus primarily on the vocabulary of the Quran.

There will also be regular Listening Assignments, Homework, Quizzes, and Examinations:

Homework: All homework will be on a “done/not done basis.”

Vocabulary Quizzes: There will be quizzes on a weekly basis that cover the new vocabulary from the vocabulary lists in each lesson, and any other vocabulary used in the reading or dictation texts.

Pop-Quizzes: There will be regular surprise dictation quizzes (graded over 20 points)

General Quizzes: Every two weeks a 20-25 min. quiz on the grammar and vocabulary of the previous lessons. As learning any language is a cumulative procedure, these quizzes will also cover all points of grammar and vocabulary dealt with in previous lessons

Midterm: There will be one midterm exam.

Final: In accordance with final schedules for UGA. No other arrangements can be made. The final will be cumulative, but will emphasize material introduced since the mid-term. The final will cover all vocabulary and grammar discussed in class, in the book and in the reading and dictation texts used during the course.

NOTE: Quiz and exam grading is on a curve.

COMPOSITION OF GRADE:

MIDTERM = 25 %; FINAL = 25%; QUIZZES, WEEKLY EXAMS and DICTATIONS = 25%, and HOMEWORK and take home dictations = 15%, CLASS PARTICIPATION = 10%.

Note: As the homework and dictations are on a done/not done basis, you will be able to calculate this part of your grade from your quiz grades. This can help you after the mid-term to know where you stand towards the final grade.

LEARNING A LANGUAGE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS, FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE OVER 95 PERCENT TOTAL THE WEEK BEFORE FINALS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM.

Make-up quizzes and tests: Make-up quizzes or exams are only possible with a “reasonable” excuse. NOTE: the professor will have the final word whether the excuse is “reasonable” or not.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

WEEK:

1) Thackston lessons 1 to 3: Case, Gender & the Construct State; text for vocalization

2) Thackston lessons 4 to 5: Dual Numbers; Sound & Broken Plurals, pronouns; hadîth of niyya

3) Thackston lesson 6: Verbal Inflection: The Perfect Active; several short hadith.

4) Thackston lesson 7: The Attached Pronouns; the hadith of Jebreel

5) Thackston lesson 8: Demonstratives, Hollow Verbs, Active and Passive Particles, Cognate Accusative; memorization of short hadith

6) Thackston lesson 9: The Weak-lâm Verbs, Active and Passive Particles, Relative Pronouns; memorization and translation of Surat al-Fîl (105)

7) Thackston lesson 10: Geminate Verbs, Active and Passive Particles, Cognate Subjects & Circumstancial Constructs; memorization and translation of Surat Quraysh (106)

8) Thackston lesson 11: Active & Passive Participles, Verbal Nouns, Cognate Accusative; memorization and translation of Surat al-Ma‘ûn (107)

9) Thackston lesson 12: Verbal Inflection: Perfect Indicative, reading and translation: Soloman and Sheba (complete vocalized version); memorization and translation of Surat al-Kawthar (108)

10) Thackston lesson 13 & 14: The Five Nouns, Exception & Categoric Negation, Doubled Verbs: Imperfect Indicative & Elative Patterns; memorization and translation of Surat al-Kâfirûn (109)

11) Thackston lesson 15: Hollow Verbs, Imperfect Indicative & Cardinal Numbers; memorization and translation of Surat al-Nasr (110)

12) Thackston lesson 16: Weak-lam Verbs, Common Broken-Plural Patterns; Reading: Abraham and the Idols; memorization and translation of Surat al-Masad (111)

13) Thackston lesson 17: Imperfect Indicative: Weak-lam Verbs & Optative with Wadda; memorization and translation of Surat al-Ikhlâs (112)

14) Thackston lessons 18: The Subjunctive & The Subjunctive of the Weak-lâm Verbs; memorization and translation of Surat al-Falaq (113)

15) Thackston lesson 19 & 20: The Jussive, The Imperative, The Jussive of the Doubled Verbs, The Vocative, The Jussive of the Hollow and Weak Verbs; memorization and translation of Surat al-Nâs (114)

THIS COURSE SYLLABUS IS A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE COURSE; DEVIATIONS ANNOUNCED TO THE CLASS BY THE INSTRUCTOR MAY BE NECESSARY. FLEXIBILITY IN THE ACQUISITION OF A LANGUGE IS A VIRTUE

This course will abide strictly by the standards of academic honesty set forth in the University of Georgia publication “A Culture of Honesty” Policy on Academic Honesty