THIS COURSE WAS LAST OFFERED IN WINTER 2007.

Classical Japanese for Linguistics

JAPAN 602 Classical Japanese II

Call No. 11572-7

Time: TR, 1:30-3:18

Classroom:  HH 0045

1. Overview

This course picks up from Japanese 601, but may be taken with the permission of the instructor by those who have studied Classical Japanese (bungo) in a non-university setting (usually, a Japanese high school or college). It deals with the study of Old and Middle Japanese texts from the viewpoint of linguistics.  Students interested primarily in literary and esthetic aspects of premodern Japanese texts may prefer to take Japanese 603.

The course will be run as a workshop.  Students will be graded on the basis of class participation, including presentations to the class (see below).  Grades will be determined by class participation, which may include written quizzes (35%), the mid-term (25%), and final paper (40%).  Final grades will be assigned to convey the instructor’s assessment of the student’s success and readiness to proceed to the next higher level of study:  D or E means the student is unready to take a more advanced course in the same subject, the difference being that a D recognizes effort by conferring credit; higher grades show that a student is qualified for more advanced study, and that the instructor believes s/he will easily excel (A), do well with effort (B), or experience considerable difficulty (C) if s/he chooses to do so.  Grades and quantitative evaluations of performance correspond as follows:

Points         Grade                     Points               Grade

92–100      A                           76–79              C+

89–91        A–                         72–75              C

86–88        B+                         69–71              C–

82–85        B                            66–67              D+

79–81        B–                          62–65              D

2. Syllabus

During roughly the first half of the course, students will read portions the Kamakura period Buddist text Tannishō, available on-line at http://www.otani.ac.jp/tannisyo/index.html and similar websites.  This text illustrates the use of Early Middle Japanese for sustaining a logical argument  as well as changes from the language of the Heian period (studied in 601) and Kamakura period language. 

Later, a series of reproductions of inscriptions and manuscripts, with commentaries in Japanese will be used.  Each student will be assigned a few of these reproductions, do background research on them, and then explain the text to the class, so that other students can ask questions.   All the texts will be supplied in electronic format, and Japanese commentaries on each will be supplied. 

Before the series of student presentations starts, the instructor will give a few introductory lectures on topics including

  • Major changes in the history of the Japanese language
  • Basic results in comparative and internal reconstruction
  • Styles of writing and role of written documents in linguistic research

3. Recommended References  

Lange, Roland A

The phonology of eighth-century Japanese; a reconstruction based upon written records

PL540 .L3 1973

Martin, Samuel E

The Japanese language through time

PL525 .M275 1987

Martin, Samuel E

A reference grammar of Japanese

PL612 .M37

Miller, Roy Andrew

The Japanese language

PL523 .M5

Unger, J. Marshall

Studies in early Japanese morphophonemics

PL525.2 .U53 1993

4. General Reminders 

Disability Services

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue (telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901). For additional information, access

http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu

 

 

Academic Misconduct

“It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term ‘academic misconduct’ includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee.”  (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487) For additional information, access the Code of Student Conduct at

http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp.

 


 
Last Updated 25 October 2007 by J. Marshall Unger