Undergraduate Course: Introducing Classical Tibetan (DIVI08036)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to the fundamental structures of Classical Tibetan, including grammar, syntax, and essential vocabulary. Students will develop reading and translation skills with an emphasis on Buddhist texts and classical prose. The course is designed for absolute beginners and aims to establish a solid foundation in Classical Tibetan for further study. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course provides an introduction to Classical Tibetan, focusing on its grammatical structures, syntax, and translation methods. Students will engage with Tibetan script, phonetics, and foundational grammar, progressively building the skills necessary to read and interpret Classical Tibetan texts. The course will combine structured language instruction and translation exercises with discussions of key linguistic and philosophical concepts.
Outline Content
The course will begin with an introduction to the Tibetan script and phonetics, ensuring students develop a solid foundation in reading and pronunciation. It will then progress to basic grammatical structures, covering nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and particles, allowing students to construct and translate simple sentences. In addition, sentence formation and translation exercises will reinforce these concepts, helping students gain confidence in reading and interpreting Classical Tibetan. The course will also introduce common Buddhist terminology and expressions, providing essential vocabulary for engaging with Tibetan Buddhist texts. Furthermore, students will learn fundamental translation techniques and syntax analysis, enabling them to navigate complex sentence structures and understand the nuances of translation. Finally, they will critically engage with selected short Classical Tibetan texts. By the end of the course, students will have developed the linguistic skills necessary for further study and independent engagement with Tibetan literature and Buddhist traditions.
Student Learning Experience
All students will experience a structured learning model combining a single two-hour weekly live class (delivered on campus) with structured asynchronous materials. The online resources will be equivalent to two additional class hours per week, supplemented by assigned homework. This uniform structure ensures parity in learning experience across different levels and delivery modes.
Weekly homework assignments will reinforce the learning material, and interactive sessions with translation exercises, and discussions. Assessment will include quizzes, independent translation, and an end-of-course exam that requires translation and grammatical analysis of selected passages.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students are welcome |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Online Activities 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
149 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Mid-term test (20%)
Independent Translation: 750-word translation with grammatical and syntactic commentary (30%)
Final Exam (50%)
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| Feedback |
Classes are interactive and will provide opportunities for weekly oral feedback on students¿ progress. Regular class tests and independent translations will also be returned with feedback on any issues of understanding, and the CO will be available to meet individually with any students who are struggling at these assessment points. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Introducing Classical Tibetan | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Recognize and accurately transcribe Tibetan script and phonetics.
- Identify and use fundamental grammatical structures.
- Apply basic translation techniques using dictionaries and online resources.
- Demonstrate competence in digital tools for Tibetan language learning and transcription.
- Recognize and explain key Buddhist concepts and Tibetan genres of texts.
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Reading List
Bentor, Yael. 2014. A Classical Tibetan Reader: Selections from Renowned Works with Custom Glossaries. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Bialek, Joanna. 2022. A Textbook in Classical Tibetan. 1st edition. London/New York: Routledge.
Hackett, Paul. 2019. Learning Classical Tibetan: A Reader for Translating Buddhist Texts. Annotated edition. Boulder: Snow Lion Publications.
Preston, Craig. 2009. How to Read Classical Tibetan, Vol. 2: Buddhist Tenets. Illustrated edition. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.
Wilson, Joe B. 2012. Translating Buddhism from Tibetan: Introduction to the Tibetan Literary Language and Translation of Buddhist Texts. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.
The Monlam Online Dictionary: https://monlamdictionary.com/
Tibetan Translation Tool: https://www.thlib.org/reference/dictionaries/tibetan-dictionary/translate.php |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Curiosity for learning and openness to different perspectives
Willingness to engage across disciplinary boundaries and to approach sources in new ways
Self-discipline and structured learning through linguistic study
Analytical thinking through grammar and translation exercises
Critical engagement with Buddhist and historical texts
Ability to construct an argument concisely. |
| Keywords | Classical Tibetan,Buddhism,Himalayan Studies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Upali Sraman
Tel:
Email: usraman@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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