Chinese Linguistics and Literature

3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1023812BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Linguistics and Literary Studies

Educational team

Ann Peeters
Jianwei Xu (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

13 contact hours Lecture
15 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
90 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course is a brief introduction to the Chinese language and the development of the major genres of Chinese literature in different historical periods. For the linguistics component, the history, the evolution as well as the nature of the language and the culturally distinctive expressions will be discussed. Concerning the literature component, we will examine some selected literary works that have considerable linguistic and literary importance in the history of Chinese literature. These works include genres such as prose, poetry, classical novels, drama and fiction from different historical periods, and they will be surveyed through a comparative reading approach in the original Chinese language and English translations.

Course material

Handbook (Recommended) : A history of the Chinese language, Hongyuan Dong, 2nd, Routledge, 9780367209858, 2020
Handbook (Recommended) : Chinese literature, Yao Dan et al, Cambridge University Press, 9780521186780, 2012
Digital course material (Required) : Digital course material (e.g. powerpoint slides, handouts) made available on Canvas

Additional info

The instructor can be reached at jianwei.xu@vub.be

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Students who complete this course will be able to

Gain a basic understanding of the primary features and varieties of the Chinese language;
Understand how Chinese culture affects or is expressed through the Chinese language;
Acquire some basic knowledge of the major genres of the Chinese literature;
Analyze basic literary features of the selected works and situate them in various historical and cultural contexts.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 20% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Application with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Note: Oral exam

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Practical with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Note: Continuous assessment

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Theoretical with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Note: Written assignment

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:

Continuous assessment (class contribution) 20%
Written assignment 40%
Oral exam 40%

Exams in August/September: continuous assessment to be carried over (20%), written assignment (40%) and oral exam (40%)

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context