Students

AHIS268 – Coptic A

2017 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Malcolm Choat
Contact via 9850 7561
W6A 504
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(12cp at 100 level or above) or admission to BAncHist
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is an introduction to Coptic, the final stage of the Egyptian script and language. An understanding of Coptic is necessary for advanced study of late antique and Christian Egypt, and is of great benefit to those studying earlier phases of the Egyptian language. This unit focuses on the Sahidic ('Upper Egyptian') dialect, the first Coptic dialect into which biblical texts were translated in the third century. Sahidic became a pan-Egyptian written dialect in the fourth and following centuries, and boasts a rich literature, both original and translated.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

General Assessment Information

Submission and Extensions

Assignments are to be submitted online, using Turnitin. External weekly grammar tests will be done on iLearn. The examination will be closed book.

Extensions for assignments are available on medical grounds and may be requested under other special circumstances. Apply direct to the Convener.

Penalties for Late Submission

A penalty of 2% per day (including weekends) will be imposed for late submission of assessment tasks unless medical grounds or other special circumstances apply.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
In-class tests (10) 25% No Weeks 4-13
Assignments (3) 45% No Weeks 6, 9, & 12
Exam 30% No Exam period

In-class tests (10)

Due: Weeks 4-13
Weighting: 25%

Tests recall of grammar and vocabulary through in-class testing in the tutorials. External students will be assessed online, via iLearn. Each equally weighted test (2.5% each) will consist of no more than 10 points of grammar taken from the previous lessons.

The purpose of short, frequent tests is to aid the memorising of key aspects of the language, in smaller chunks. This will help enormously in the segmentation of strings of language into meaningful units and will enable students to more quickly master the various points of grammar under study. Further, this continual reinforcement of knowledge will make it more rewarding to do the translation exercises each week and in the other forms of assessment.

The assessment criteria against which this task will be assessed are accuracy and completeness.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage

Assignments (3)

Due: Weeks 6, 9, & 12
Weighting: 45%

The three assignments, equally weighted (15% each), will consolidate the grammar and vocabulary learned to the time when the each assignment is set.

Students will be required to:

  • translate passages of varying lengths and difficulty from Coptic into English;
  • identify grammatical features of the text (subject, verbal construction, direct and indirect object);
  • translate phrases and sentences from English into Coptic.

Assessments will be available electronically, 2 weeks before the deadline. Students must complete the assessments individually, without collaborating with others. Please note "Policies and Procedures" for University policy concerning academic honesty.

The assessment criteria against which this task will be assessed are accuracy, completeness, and control of appropriate terminology.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Exam

Due: Exam period
Weighting: 30%

The exam is designed to bring together everything studied in the course and demonstrate an understanding of Coptic vocabulary and grammar. The exam will be divided into four sections:

  1. Translation of passages, of varying lengths, from Coptic into English. These will include passages taken from the course material as well as unseen texts.
  2. Identify specified grammatical features of the texts.
  3. Write an extended answer on aspects of Coptic grammar and syntax: one question from three.
  4. Translations of short sentences from English to Coptic.

The assessment criteria against which this task will be assessed are accuracy, completeness, control of grammatical terminology, and clarity of expression in open-ended questions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Delivery and Resources

Lectures and Tutorials

The course consists of a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial each week. The tutorial will provide the opportunity to consolidate the information presented in the lecture and will comprises working through exercises from the textbook (see below) as a group. Note that the tutorials are not recorded: questions about the weekly readings may be asked in a weekly discussion forum, and the answers will be posted each week.

Technology used and required

The unit has an iLearn page which can be accessed at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php. PC and internet access are therefore required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Content, readings, and discussions for this unit will be delivered via the unit iLearn page. The lectures for this unit will be recorded and the audio recordings and accompanying slides will be available on the Echo 360 system. Any extra readings required will be made available on the unit iLearn page.

Lectures and tutorials will be recorded and uploaded to Echo360 soon after class. Course notes will be uploaded to iLearn, as will the 3 assignments. The weekly class test will also be available on iLearn for external students.

Note: iLearn should be regularly consulted for updates, learning tools, and for participation in the discussion forum.

Coptic fonts

For the purposes of this course it is essential that you learn to type words in Coptic (or Greek). Most ancient language fonts – even if they are of the same language – have a different distribution of characters on the keyboard. So if members of the group use different fonts, this will lead to misunderstandings. We will use unicode fonts which (theoretically) display the same on all systems. I suggest therefore that you download the public domain Unicode font “New Athena Unicode”, which contains Coptic and Greek characters.

New Athena Unicode  is available for both PC and Macintosh computers on the following website:

http://apagreekkeys.org/NAUdownload.html

(See the link to "DOWNLOAD New Athena Unicode version 5.002 in ttf format" under "Latest Version")

For Coptic Unicode input (that is, keyboard layout), follow the directions provided at:

http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~pinax/coptic.html

This contains instructions for installing the Keyboard layouts in Windows or Mac systems, and general guidance on entering Coptic on both systems.

If you have any problems using this font, please contact the lecturer.

Textbook and other reading

Textbook

The textbook we will use is Lambdin, T. O., Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, Macon 1983 (2nd edition 1992). This is available from the co-op bookshop, and all students must purchase a copy.

Grammars

As scholarly focus since the late 19th century has primarily been on Sahidic, there is a large body of teaching aids available for this dialect. The following list is not exhaustive, but lists the most important grammars. If students wish to purchase a comprehensive grammar, I recommend that of Layton, below, but this is not required.

Layton, B., A Coptic Grammar. Wiesbaden 2000 (2nd ed. Wiesbaden 2004).

Mallon, A., Grammaire copte: bibliographie, chrestomathie et vocabulaire, 4 éd. revue par Michel Malinine, Beyrouth 1956.

Plisch, U.-K., Einführung in die koptische Sprache (sahidischer Dialekt). Wiesbaden 1999.

Polotsky, H. J., Études de syntaxe copte, Cairo 1944.

Reintges, C., Coptic Egyptian (Sahidic Dialect). A Learner's Grammar. Köln 2004.

Shisha-Halevy, A., Coptic Grammatical Categories. Structural Studies in the Syntax of Shenoutean Sahidic. Roma, 1986.

Stern, L., Koptische Grammatik, Leipzig 1880.

Till, W., Koptische Grammatik, Leipzig 1961.

Till, W., Koptische Dialektgrammatik, München 1961.

Torallas Tovar, S., Gramática de Copto Sahidico. Madrid 2001.

Dictionaries

At this point of learning Coptic it is not necessary to purchase one of the dictionaries listed below, although access to a dictionary will be necessary for the advanced study of Coptic. For the purposes of this unit, the dictionary given in  Lambdin, Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, is quite sufficient. The most important dictionary below is Crum, W.E. Coptic Dictionary.

Černý, J., Coptic Etymological Dictionary, Cambridge 1976.

Crum, W. E., Coptic Dictionary, Oxford 1939 (various reprints since, including Oxford 1999 and Wipf & Stock Publishers 2005).

Kasser, R., Compléments au Dictionnaire copte de Crum, Cairo 1964.

Smith, R., A Concise Coptic-English Lexicon, Grand Rapids 1983.

Westendorf, W., Koptisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg 1965-77.

Unit Schedule

Course Structure

Each week, there will be a 2-hour lecture on Wednesday and a 1-hour tutorial on Thursday. The course material will be presented in the lecture; the tutorial will consist of exercises that will reinforce the information learned in the lecture. Attendance at both the lecture and tutorial are compulsory for those students who wish to do well in the unit. For a week-by-week overview of the content we will cover, see the unit iLearn site.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Recognize and memorize foundational Coptic vocabulary
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Assess the grammar required for the translation of simple Coptic texts
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and recall Coptic script and phonetic structure
  • Identify and recall Coptic grammatical structures at elementary level
  • Explore relevant grammatical and lexical reference tools
  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Integrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in reading and/or writing simple Coptic texts

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recognize and recall linguistic metalanguage
  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • In-class tests (10)
  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explore the significance of Coptic for the study of relevant ancient cultures

Assessment tasks

  • Assignments (3)
  • Exam