Postgraduate Course: Introducing Classical Tibetan (PG) (DIVI11079)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course serves as an introductory study of Classical Tibetan, with a focus on grammar, syntax, and translation techniques. It is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Tibetan and will provide them with the foundational skills necessary to read and analyze Tibetan Buddhist texts. Through structured readings, grammar exercises, and translation practice, students will develop competence in Classical Tibetan and a deeper understanding of its linguistic structure. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course introduces Classical Tibetan, the literary language of Tibet, which has been the primary medium for Buddhist scriptures, philosophical treatises, and historical works for over a millennium. The course is accessible to absolute beginners and assumes no prior knowledge of the language. Students will gain foundational skills in grammar, syntax, and script while engaging with authentic texts.
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 comprehend 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 from different genres of Tibetan literature. 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. These 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 will 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.
Postgraduate students will have two additional hours to explore Tibetan Buddhist vocabulary, cultural concepts, and structures, supporting their translation assignments and critical discussions on genre and stylistic variations.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Online Activities 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
147 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course tests (20%)
Independent Translation: 1,500-word translation with in-depth cultural, philosophical, and linguistic analysis (30%)
Final Exam (50%) |
| 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 while applying phonetic principles.
- Demonstrate proficiency in Classical Tibetan grammar, syntax, and translation using dictionaries and online resources.
- Interpret Classical Tibetan texts within their cultural, philosophical, and religious contexts.
- Engage in critical discussions on Tibetan literary genres, exploring variations in vocabulary usage across different styles and contexts.
- Present a well-structured, properly presented, and well-supported argument in the form of an independent translation and essay.
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Reading List
Bentor, Yael. 2014. A Classical Tibetan Reader: Selections from Renowned Works with Custom. 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 | Tibetan,Buddhism,Himalayan Studies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Upali Sraman
Tel:
Email: usraman@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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