Michaelmas Term 2013

M.PHIL IN TIBETAN AND HIMALAYAN STUDIES: COURSE DETAILS

Course organiser Dr Ulrike Roesler

YEAR 1

Term 1

The emphasis in the early stages of the course will be on the acquisition of language, with

five hours of elementary Tibetan per week. The teaching will be based primarily on

Nicolas Tournadre and Sangda Dorje's Manual of Standard Tibetan (Ithaca, Snow Lion

Publications, 2003). It is expected that, within the first two weeks, students will have

grasped the essential features of Tibetan phonology, and learned the alphabet and the

principles of syllable structure. The remaining eight weeks of term will cover lessons 1 to

10 of the Manual. Homework will consist of completing the grammar exercises that

follow each lesson. There will be a brief vocabulary test each week.

Students will also be expected to read a number of English-language works by way of

general background to the region, and to attend a series of weekly lectures entitled

“Introduction to Tibetan History and Civilisation”. They will also be encouraged to

attend a series of introductory lectures on Buddhism. Throughout the six terms,

attendance at the weekly presentations of work in progress by doctoral students of

Tibetan Studies, and lectures given by visiting scholars, will be strongly recommended.

Term 2

Hilary term will begin with a one-hour collection (minor examination) to ensure that the

lessons of the first term have been retained. Collections will be held at the beginning of

every term hereafter. The aim of the language course this term is to complete and revise

lessons 1-15 of the Manual, and to read a number of short pieces from different sources

in modern and/or classical Tibetan. The Tibetan Language Instructor is going to do

exercise in reading and speaking the colloquial language.

In addition to language classes, students will be expected to attend a weekly lecture on

“Religious Traditions of Tibet”.

The qualifying examination, to be taken at the end of this term, will have three

components: 1) A three-hour grammar paper based on lessons 1-15 of the Manual; 2) A

three-hour paper on set texts, consisting of five of the short pieces read during the course

of the term; 3) an oral examination to test knowledge of spoken Tibetan.

Term 3

During Trinity term, work on the Manual will continue up to lesson 20. Extracts from a

range of texts will be read and knowledge of grammar further developed. One hour per

Michaelmas Term 2013

week will be devoted to literary Tibetan grammar and special features of the language

Tibetan Buddhist works. Students will also take a series of tutorials on aspects of Tibetan

history and civilisation. (“Civilisation” will cover various themes in history, religions,

and society.) Each tutorial will involve reading prescribed secondary works and preparing

an essay or a presentation. The title of the 30,000-word dissertation will be submitted in

this term, and discussions held with the supervisor concerning the content and structure

of this work.

Students will be encouraged to use the long summer vacation to attend summer schools

abroad or visit Tibetan-speaking communities (either in Tibet or in South Asia) to

develop their language skills and begin work on their dissertations. Limited funding for

such trips is available from certain sources.

YEAR 2

Term 1

There will be a one-hour collection based on lessons 1-20 of the Manual. Chapters 21-25

will be covered during the course of the term. Teaching materials will be distributed in

class. Two set texts will be read with eight one-hour sessions each, one classical and one

modern. Tutorials will be arranged with students individually.

Term 2

Chapters 26-30 of the Manual will be covered. (Although the Manual contains 41

lessons, the final examinations will be based only on lessons 1-30.) The reading of the

two set texts will be continued. Attendance at the lectures on “Religious Traditions of

Tibet” is recommended. Tutorials will be arranged with students as seems suitable.

Term 3

Dissertations are to be submitted by the end of the second week. You are also requested

to submit the dissertation on CD. Revision sessions for chapters 1-30 of the Manual will

be held, and the set texts and essay topics reviewed. Excerpts from a variety of texts will

be read as practice for translating unseens. More time will be devoted in this term to

developing conversational skills.