42672 - Ethiopian Languages and Literature

Academic Year 2009/2010

  • Docente: Irma Taddia
  • Credits: 12
  • SSD: L-OR/07
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Oriental History and Civilisations (cod. 0963)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have a basic knowledge of the Ethiopian culture, as well as of the fundamentals of the Ethiopian languages. The student will be able to discuss the  subjects examined during the classes and contextualize them with reference to the assigned texts.

Course contents

The course will be divided in three parts.
The first part will be devoted to a general analysis of the languages of the Horn of Africa and the problems related to their classification.
The second part will focus on methodology, particularly on the use and contextualization of oral and written sources in the historical context of the Horn. In this section, the balance between oral sources and written texts will be analysed, with particular reference to the methodological problems related to it.
The third part will provide a basic knowledge of the Amharic language (Ethiopia)

Readings/Bibliography

E. Cerulli La letteratura etiopica , Milano, Sansoni, 1968
L. Ricci,  Letterature  dell' Etiopia, in  Storie e letterature d'oriente , Milano 1969
During the course, handouts will be given by Dr Zeleke Elesso

Office hours

See the website of Irma Taddia