Survey of the First Indian Language (Tamil) 3600-7-IN1-WIJIT(Z)

This is a four-semester course designed to introduce students to the basic
knowledge of a first Indian language (Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil) and to the
principles of its descriptive grammar. The course also aims to develop linguistic awareness of the selected Indian language through the analysis of grammatical structures. It covers the writing system, phonetics and phonology, as well as the morphology and syntax of the selected Indian language. Elements of word formation are also discussed. For Bengali, Hindi, and Tamil, the lectures focus on the standard modern language; for Sanskrit, the focus is on Classical Sanskrit.

The course is conducted within the “Integrated Teaching & Learning
Development Programme – ZIP 2.0”, which is co-financed by the European
Social Fund – the European Funds for Social Development Programme
2021–2027 (FERS) (contract no.: FERS.01.05-IP.08-0365/23-00).

Term 2026Z:

In the 1st semester lectures will deal with such grammatical issues, as:
1) Tamil script – the rules of writing and reading. Basic information on Tamil
phonetics, phonology and morphonology (allophones, sandhi rules,
agglutination);
2) noun and personal pronoun paradigms – oblique stem, case suffixes;
3) infinitive and defective verbs;
4) suggestions, hortatives, desideratives and optatives -laam and -ttum ;
5) demonstrative pronouns, cardinal and ordinal numerals, interrogatives;
6) noun-derived adjectives and adverbs;
7) imperative mood – positive and negative forms;
8) present tense indicative mood – verbless clause;
9) present tense indicative mood – finite verbs;
10) present tense negative indicative form;
11) past tense;
12) verbal participle;
13) conjunctive clauses.

Course coordinators

Jacek Woźniak

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) dla studentów I roku studiów pierwszego stopnia na kierunku orientalistyka- indologia

Learning outcomes

Knowledge – the graduate knows and understands:

K_W08
the structure, history, and script of two selected Indian languages
(Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil), as well as their significance in the context of the culture and history of the South Asian region, at an advanced level
K_W09
the principles of translation from two selected Indian languages (Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil) into Polish

Skills – the graduate is able to:
K_U09
translate literary/non-literary texts from two selected Indian languages
(Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil) into Polish
K_U10
use, at an advanced level, the writing systems (applying the rules of standard
orthography) of two selected Indian languages (Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil),
as well as tools for their study and analysis (traditional and electronic
dictionaries, lexicons, language corpora, databases, etc.)

Social competencies – the graduate is ready to:
K_K06
support the accessibility and promotion of the cultural and linguistic heritage of South Asia

Assessment criteria

attendance control
continuous preparation for the class and active participation during classes
oral and/or written assessment at the end of the semester

Practical placement

N/A

Bibliography

literature and materials selected by the teacher depending on the language
group (Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil)

Term 2026Z:

Andronov M., 1969. A Standard Grammar of Modern and Classical Tamil, New Century Book House Pvt. Ltd., Madras.

Herrmann T., J. Kusio, 2014. Język tamilski, Dialog, Warszawa.

Lehmann T., 1993. A Grammar of Modern Tamil, Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture, Pondicherry.