140527 PS Introduction to the Manchu language (2019S)

The course is designed as a practical introduction into reading Manchu texts. The students will receive general information about the language, will learn to read the Manchu script, and the basic grammar will be explained. Afterwards several samples of Manchu texts will be read, translated and commented. In the end students should understand the structure of Manchu sentences and be able to read a simple text using dictionary.
Tentative schedule:
Lessons 1-3: General information – classification, socio-linguistic and cultural background, history and present situation of Manchu. Manchu writing system (1st part). General grammar structure, nominal inflection. Nominal sentences.
Lessons 4.-6: Manchu writing system (2nd part). Verbal inflection. Sentence structure, basic sentence types.
Lessons 7.-15. Reading sample texts:
• a short modern Sibe text (folktale from Sibe uksura-i irgen siden jube “Sibe folktales”)
• a Standard Manchu text (from the Annals of the Dzungar wars, in Roth-Li: Manchu – textbook for reading documents)
• a standardized Old Manchu text (How Nurhaci invented the Manchu script, ibid)
• a non-standard Manchu text (from Nišan saman-i bithe “The Tale of the Nishan shamaness”)