Bachelor of Arts in Sanskrit Language

The Australian National University

Sanskrit, the classical language of India, has long been renowned for its beauty, subtlety and complexity. It is the key to the civilisational treasures of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, and provides direct access to a vast repository of literary, scientific and philosophical wisdom.The Sanskrit Language Major equips students with a high level of competence in Sanskrit, addressing both knowledge and critical understanding of Sanskrit language and its associated culture. The courses included in this Major balance the traditional practice of textual reception-reading and grammar-with language production-chanting and singing. By its completion, students will be able to independently read texts from a wide range of genres and will be able to chant and recite with a high degree of accuracy.Learning OutcomesTranslate from a wide variety of texts and genres with a high level of competence in using a Sanskrit-English dictionaryDemonstrate thorough understanding of advanced grammatical structures employed in Classical and Vedic Sanskrit, and demonstrate expertise in using reference grammarsAppraise the linguistic registers of root texts and their place among the various genres of Sanskrit literature, and reflect this in appropriate English translationDemonstrate an ability to interpret commentarial texts, showing an understanding of commentarial techniques and vocabulary

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