A graduate student must pass a qualifying examination (See Academic Rules and Regulations for Graduate Students).
Course Description
A Topic in Syntax and Syntactic Theory (431521):
This course studies conditions associated with the syntactic theory and how linguistic studies are related to both Arabic and other nations' languages; and it takes a keen look at linguists’ methods in inducting the linguistic material. It will also study and view the origins of syntax & the level it reached as a theory at the time of late scholars, that's why it studies analogy its pillars, the factor theory, and how syntactic analogy is related to logic. The course will also take into consideration hearing and what comes under it e.g. sources of claim, in addition to Qur'an & its readings, poetry along with the Problems of poetic quotation. Furthermore, this course will come across the language of Arabs (in prose) e.g. the prophetic sayings, proverbs, and unrhymed verse.
This course takes into consideration the relation between classic Arabic and the various accents of Arabic prose & poetry styles, quantity & quality descriptions e.g. Littleness, rareness, irregularity, repulsiveness, eloquence, and poorness of quality. Finally, this course will present views of late syntacticians and modern researchers in areas of the afore-mentioned issues. E.g. Sibaweyh, Farra: Ibn Jenni et al, those views that assimilate to a large extent those of founders of the syntactic theory, and have been-re-studied by the founders of the afore mentioned theory. All that aims at discovering the relationship between the implicit origins found by pioneer scholars & the explicit origins reached by the late ones.
A Topic in Semantics & Semiotics (431522):
This course studies all types of semantics, its different relationship with other sciences such semiotics, plus the spheres that semantics come under e.g. concept, correlation, and how these are related to context. It also considers the individual semantics what has to do with domains & conjunctions side by side to correlations ranging from logic to inclusion, synonymy, antonym and all forms of lexical relation. A part of this course will study the relations between semantics & syntax, verbal language. What pronunciation means, subject making conditions on, assumption, insertion etc…. Finally, this course studies how semantics is related to logic with all its types: propositional logic, predicate logic, & formal logic in addition to the conditional type of semantics.
A Topic in the Phonetics and the Phonology of Arabic (431523):
This course surveys phonetics and phonology of Arabic in an advanced manner. Assuming that the student (in his/her undergraduate studies) took this course in a basic way, we will overcome certain ABCs of this very science in addition to:
1) The phonemic theory and various schools that considered this theory. 2) The structural & non-structural phonemes of Arabic.
3) Studying the structural phonemes of Arabic in descriptive & classifying wide-range manner.
4) Studying the syllabic system of Arabic.
5) Studying non-structural phonemes like accent intonation, and articulation.
This course does consider the relation between the two discussions: phonemic & morphic i.e. the Morphophonemic stemming from the relations between phonemes & morphemes, so this course as well considers.
2) Aspects of phonological change that happens or might happen to certain sounds of Arabic during being close one to another inside some structural morphemic occurrences. 3) The power theory in phonological traits and their impact on the structural phonological change procedure.
4) Making alteration in Arabic an application in this sphere.
Rhetoric & Modern Literary Criticism (431525):
This course considers different rhetorical subjects from the point of view of modern criticism. It also aims at linking rhetorical issues to modern criticism curricula, and providing certain visions about certain topics like: image, semiotic, stylistics, and structuralism.
A Topic in Modern Arabic Poetry & Prose (431526):
This course studies the development of the modern Arabic Literature. In fields of poetry we'll see how poetry has been affected by Arabic tradition and the Western literature. We can stop at the Renaissance school, or Diwan school, or Apollo, etc. or even free verse and any aspect of the free verse e.g. legend or symbol what has to do with modern prose stopping at novels, drama, autobiography etc. Through following a certain topic or issue in a number of novels, plays etc., all the afore mentioned is done in light of modern criticism theories.
Ancient Poetry and Literary Criticism (431527):
This course attempts observing ancient Arabic Poetry movement during the Jahiliyya, Islamic, and Umiyyad eras by seeing certain pieces of poetry taken from major original sources like the "Asmaiyyat" & "Mafdaliyyat" etc. In addition to allocated poetry collection provided by that modern critical curricula and literary schools are taken into consideration. This course as well takes into consideration poetry in the ancient ages plus focusing on developments, impacts, & changes that took place in the Arabic poem taking into consideration the multicultural impact on the development of the art of Arabic poetry.
Syntactic Theory & Contemporary Linguistics (431531):
This course aims at keeping the student of Arabic not isolated from the continuous development in linguistic studies that happen in the age we live in. We must go through details of these studies to discover sites of mastering it plus knowing the points of their difference from syntactic theory. Based on that, this course attempts studying establishers of the syntactic theory, its directions (Theoretical & applied) all that in a rooting fashion in light of modern linguistic theories, especially those used by Arab syntacticians in studying Arabic syntax.
This course stops at the Origins established by De sasseuce & Chomsky etc, and other authorities in modern linguistics; it will further take the student to review the works by Sibaweih, Ibn-Jini et al and search differences between standard and descriptive studies in their primary and formal limits. It looks at the contemporary Arabs' position from the Arabic syntax in light of these differences. It also looks at the functional & social destinations of Firth & the Prague school of linguistics and eventually the course will survey the origins of the transformational theory of Chomsky.
A Topic in Contemporary Arabic Issues (431532):
This course deals with the major issues that affected or do affect the expansion of the Arabic language & its growth in the modern era e.g. calls for colloquial language its origin, the reasons behind that, effects & the position of modern scholars from it, & its future. This course will also seek the counter calls for reviving the classic Arabic and letting it be the means of our daily communication, obstacles of such calls, their possibility, and way of reinforcing them. This course further deals with the issue of making syntax easier, the applied & theoretical attempts of modern linguists or scholars, issues of arabicization in clouding its different levels, and finally the problem of scientific terminology: putting the right terminology, unifying it, spreading it, & developing it.
A Topic in the Characteristics of Arabic Language & its Origins (431533):
This course studies and analyzes issues of verbal conjoint, antonym, synonymy, & derivation. All that is studied & taken into consideration the way these issues were firm in the age of old scholars & how they were depicted in their writings & lexicons compared to their status in the eyes of modern scholars & these issues' value in the overall journey of Arabic. This course further deals with the modern Arabic lexicon, stops at testing old lexicons ( Their substance & method) all that in the light of their ages & ours. Then we'll see the step that took us to the modern lexicon issues so we'll see interests of orientalists & their lexicons, attempts of the linguistic assemblies in putting special lexicons, in addition to those needed by Arabic e.g. the historical lexicon, meanings lexicon & finally lexicon for terminology.
Studies in Language & Syntax (431534):
This course studies a group of specialized & masterful studies (prepared or collected by the instructor or any one else), and these studies are studied critically in a fashion that would absorb issues presented both (method & inclusion). After that, these studies balance a number of approximate studies in one subject. So, a part of this course goes to studying three studies (at least) written by different researchers on one issue, in order to have a start or a leap towards embodying principles of linguistic research.
A topic in Modern Literary Criticism (431535):
This course studies a literary school or critical methods e.g. structuralism, stylistics, realism etc. , it further follows the way this school or method is reflected in modern criticism & reinforces the studying of certain Arabic theories e.g. the recounting theory, or even studying one of the modern literary criticism phenomena in some Arabic country, or studying the role that the literary eroticism journals have contributed in establishing pillars of the modern literary criticism such as the " Fusool Journal" or criticizing novels.
A Topic in Literature & Criticism (431536):
This course focuses on a number of specialized studies in literature & criticism that consider a certain topic chosen by the instructor, all that aims at training students at comparing & contrasting between types of studies which will eventually lead to mastering sound methodology in literary criticism.
A topic in Ancient Prose (431537):
This course captures the development of the Arabic prose throughout ages (from Jahiliyia up to modern times). It studies the Holy Qura'an & its impact. It also traces the development of prose by looking at other forms of various arts of prose such as Al- maqamah and Al-risalah or letters. And finally it looks at some of the accomplished works in this field along with the methods and subjects being used and tackled in this framework.
A Topic in modern Palestinian Literature (431538):
This course considers one of the topics that have to with the modern Arabic literature in Palestine through following up a certain topic like symbol, myth, tradition, or the Palestinian character all that through the Palestinian divans (poetry collections) plays, or autobiographies etc. This course affords students the opportunity to get to know some prominent Palestinian writers or poets like Gassan Kanafani, Mahmood Darweesh, and Jabra Ibrahim Jabra.
A Topic in Comparative Literature (431539):
This course aims at defining what comparative literature is all about and its schools. It also aims at studying various relations & mutual effects between Arabic literature & other literatures. This course also shows students various related theories and literary terminology etc. all that will be down with focus on applied studies.
Scholars of Arabic Language & Literature (431540):
Instructor of this course shall choose one scholar among many of Arabic language & literature who has strong impact on linguistic studies, Arabic literature or criticism (in old & modern times) provided that the chosen scholar is very strongly connected to the instructor’s specialization.