HEBREW LANGUAGE 1

The course is one of the language seminars of the BA degree in Lingue, Culture e Società dell'Asia e dell'Africa Mediterranea, and the MA degree in Scienze dell'antichità: letterature, storia e archeologia, and aims at giving students the elementary tools for a basic knowledge of biblical and modern Hebrew.
Its objectives are as follows:
- to provide knowledge of the grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew (lecture course, Dr. Paolo Lucca, 2nd term);
- to provide knowledge of the basic grammar of modern Hebrew (CEFR levels A1-A2; readings in modern Hebrew, Dr. Tsipora Baran, 1st and 2nd term).

1) Lecture course (Dr. Paolo Lucca, 2nd term).
At the end of the course, students should know the fundamental elements of Biblical Hebrew (vocabulary, morphology, syntax).

I. Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing the phonetics and phonology of Biblical Hebrew.
- Knowing the Hebrew alphabet (square) and its transliteration systems.
- Knowing the morphology and syntax of the Biblical Hebrew
- Knowledge of the basic principles of entries order in bilingual Hebrew dictionaries.

II. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing how to correctly articulate the sounds of Biblical Hebrew.
- Knowing how to use, read, and write the Hebrew alphabet (square) and to use the transliteration systems in Latin letters.
- Being able to parse nominal and verbal forms in Biblical Hebrew and identify their roots.
- Being able to read, analyse, and translate Biblical Hebrew texts at intermediate level.
- Being able to use a bilingual Hebrew dictionary.

III. Judgement ability:
- Being able to formulate hypothesis, developing a critical approach to the evaluation of alternatives.

IV. Learning abilities:
Consulting critically the reference texts and the bibliography.

2) Readings in modern Hebrew (Dr. Tsipora Baran, 1st and 2nd term).
At the end of the course, students should know the fundamental elements of modern Hebrew (vocabulary, morphology, syntax), both in the written and oral dimension (CEFR levels A1-A2).

I. Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing the phonetics and phonology of modern Hebrew.
- Knowing the Hebrew alphabet (cursive).
- Knowing the basic morphology and syntax of modern Hebrew.
- Knowing the necessary phrases in elementary communication contexts.

II. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing how to correctly articulate the sounds of modern Hebrew.
- Knowing how to use, read, and write the Hebrew alphabet (cursive).
- Knowing how to correctly use the necessary sentences in the most basic communication contexts.
- Being able to read and understand basic modern Hebrew texts.
- Being able to use a bilingual Hebrew dictionary.

III. Communication skills:
- Being able to communicate in basic fields of daily life in modern Hebrew.

Students should be familiar with the basic concepts of Italian grammar and syntax.
Students are strongly recommended to read the books of the Pentateuch, Samuel, Kings, Major Prophets, and Psalms before classes start.

1) Lecture course (30 hours):
- Hebrew in the Semitic linguistic group;
- basics morphology and syntax of Biblical Hebrew;
- reading and translation of modern Hebrew texts.

2) Readings in Modern Hebrew (30 + 30 hours):
- oral and written classes of modern Hebrew.

1) Lecture course:
- Carrozzini A., Grammatica della lingua ebraica, Marietti, Genova 1966 e ristampe;
- Alonso Schökel L., Dizionario di ebraico biblico, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo 2013.
Other materials will be made available during the course.

2) Readings in modern Hebrew:
- Brosh, S. - Harusi, H. - Hayyim, A. - Laudan, E., 'Ivrit me-alef 'ad taw, Diyonon, Tel Aviv 2003.
Other materials will be made available during the course.

Evaluation of students will be based on:

- a written test consisting of a translation from Biblical or Modern Hebrew to the student's choice (4 hours);
- an oral test on the morphology and syntax of Biblical Hebrew;
- an oral test of Israeli Hebrew.

Final grades will be calculated according to the average of the three partial grades.

Teaching in class, in-class exercises, and take-home assignments.

Italian

written and oral