Tibetan Language and Grammar
The study of the Tibetan language starts with ancient grammatical treatises such the ‘Thirty verses’ (sum cu pa) and ‘Use of Gender Signs’ (rtags ‘jug pa) by Thonmi Sambhota, as well as on many other later commentarial texts authored by greatly accomplished scholars.
In this field, students will engage in the study of grammar from beginner to advanced level. This will be taught with a view to developing the student's competence in translating Dharma texts - yet proficiency in this skill is mainly based on a thorough understanding of Buddhist Studies and Meditation. Therefore, specific courses on Dharma Language (chos skad) will be held in the Faculty as well as spoken Tibetan.
Special attention will be devoted during the course to the much-needed standardisation of a technical vocabulary for the representation of translated Tibetan literature, we will also include the study of secular Tibetan history. Ancillary courses in language will also include Poetics (snan dnags, kāvya), Metrics (sdeb sbyor, chanda) and Etymology/Synonymy (mngon brjod, nirukta).
