CEUS U582 0689 Beckwith
Old Tibetan
About the
Instructor
This course is an introduction to the early form of the written Tibetan language, current during
the period of the Tibetan Empire (ca. 6l8-866 A.D.) and for about a century afterward. Old
Tibetan was used not only by Tibetans but by people of many nationalities in Central Asia and
Western China even after the collapse of the Tibetan Empire. There is a vast corpus of material
written in Old Tibetan. This material is the focus of much important research in the field of
Tibetan studies, due to the fact that it was written during the formative phase of Tibet's political
and religious history. The present course constitutes a thorough philological and practical
introduction to the Old Tibetan language.
Required Texts: H. A. Haschke, Tibetan-English Dictionary. Other materials distributed in class.
Prerequisites: Two years of Tibetan, or permission of instructor.
Exams: One or two short quizzes, midterm and final examination.
Grading: Based on attendance, preparation, participation, quizzes, and exams.
Days and Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:15-12:30.