Instructor: Pema Bhum

Credits: 4 Undergraduates; 3 Graduates

Description: This course will introduce students to the Amdo dialect which =
is
spoken by about 1 million Tibetans living primarily in the Tibetan province=
of
Amdo -- a region now incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Ga=
nsu
and Sichuan.  While the dialect itself has many variations, students will
learn the pronunciation and grammar of the spoken language that is most wid=
ely
intelligible throughout Amdo and among most nomads in greater Tibet.  The A=
mdo
dialect is known for having retained much of the pronunciation, lexicon and
spelling of Old Tibetan.  By learning the Tibetan script and basic
grammar, students will also develop skills applicable to the study of liter=
ary
Tibetan and modern Lhasa Tibetan.  The primary objective of this course is =
to
develop conversational skills which are supported by a solid understanding =
of
elementary grammar.  This is the first time such a course has been offered =
at
this university, and it provides one of the few opportunities in the U.S. t=
o
study the Amdo dialect.

Prerequisite: No prior knowledge of Tibetan is necessary.

Exams: Grade based on class performance, quizzed and exams.

Course Materials: Handouts will be provided for each class.  These will be
supplemented by material from A-mdo kha-skad slob-deb (Xining, 1989) and
Bod-Rgya shan-sbyar-gyi A-mdo'i kha-skad tshig-mdzod (Xining, 1989).  Tapes
will be available for independent listening practice.  Popular listening
materials including folk songs, comedy tapes and film will also be used for
class instruction.

Days and Times: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:10-11:00.