Reporter 27/11/02: Oriental Studies Tripos, and Preliminary Examination for Part I, 2003

Oriental Studies Tripos, and Preliminary Examination for Part I, 2003

The Faculty of Oriental Studies give notice that, with effect from the examination to be held in 2003, the form of the examinations for the Oriental Studies Tripos and the Preliminary Examination for Part I will be changed as follows:

Preliminary Examination for Part I

C. 4. Chinese cultural history

This paper will consist of ten questions. Candidates will be required to attempt three of them. The questions may contain short quotations in English translation from relevant secondary and primary sources. All questions will be of equal value.

In. 6. Introduction to Indian studies, 2: Language, literature, and religion

This paper will consist of approximately twenty essay questions divided into two sections, one covering language and literature, and the other religion; candidates will be required to attempt four questions, of which not more than three may be taken from any one section.

P. 2. Persian composition and grammar

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will contain a choice of topics for one composition of about 100 words of Persian (40 marks) and sentences for translation into Persian (30 marks). Section B will contain questions on Persian grammar (30 marks). Candidates should attempt all questions.

Arabic oral

This will consist of three sections:

Section A will be a listening comprehension;
Section B will be a role-play;
Section C will be a discussion on a topic chosen from a list.

Section A will carry 30 marks and Sections B and C will carry 35 marks each.

Part I and Part II

Assyriology

As. 15. Mesopotamian Special Subject (also serves as Paper A22 in Part IIA and Part IIB of the Archaeological and Anthropological Tripos)

The subject of this paper is Religious practices and institutions. The course-work which constitutes this paper comprises four essays, each of a maximum of 5,000 words, selected by the candidate from a list of six subjects provided. Two essays are to be submitted to the Faculty Office in the Faculty of Oriental Studies by the first day of Lent Full Term, and two by the first day of Easter Full Term in the academical year of the examination.

Chinese Studies

C. 1. Literary Chinese texts, 1

(Specified subjects: Selections from pre-Tang dynasty texts)

C. 2. Literary Chinese texts, 2

(Specified subject: Selections from Tang verse and from late Imperial prose)

These two papers each contain three passages of literary Chinese, one of which shall been seen and two unseen, for translation into English. The unseen texts will be of similar style and content to the seen texts. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions. All questions will be of equal value.

C. 16. Dynastic China: readings

This paper will be divided into two sections: the Tang period and Late Imperial China, of which candidates should attempt one section only. Each section will consist of three passages of seen and unseen literary Chinese texts, related to the subject, for translation, and for comment in less than fifty words. All questions within the candidate's chosen section should be attempted and will be of equal value. A Chinese-Chinese dictionary will be provided.

Indian Studies

In. 17. Hindi texts, 4

This paper will consist of six questions: four passages for translation into English, taken from modern Hindi texts covered during the year (20 marks each); and two essay questions (10 marks each). All questions should be attempted.

Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

Is. 1. Arabic language, 1

This paper will consist of three questions: one passage of Arabic on which candidates will be required to answer questions (40 marks); one passage of Arabic for translation into English (35 marks); and one passage of Arabic to be summarized in English (25 marks). All questions should be attempted.

Is. 6. Persian literary texts

This paper will consist of five questions: two seen and two unseen passages of Persian prose for translation into English, (20 marks each); and a set of grammatical and linguistic questions on one or more of the passages (20 marks). All questions should be attempted.

Is. 12. Arabic language, 4

Candidates may choose between (a) a three-hour written examination and (b) a translation project.

(a) the examination will consist of three passages of which two must be translated from Arabic to English (30 marks each) with comments on the grammatical and stylistic choices made in the translation (10 marks for comment on each translation) and one passage of Arabic with its English translation for critical discussion of the translation (20 marks). Candidates may make use of the Arabic-English dictionaries provided.

(b) The translation project will consist of a passage of Arabic of approximately 2,000 words to be translated into English, together with a brief introduction to the passage and a commentary on the grammatical and stylistic decisions made in translation. The whole project shall not exceed 6,000 words in length, including footnotes and bibliography. Candidates shall be required to state in the bibliography the sources they have used and to declare that the project represents their own work unaided except as may be specified in the declaration. The candidate's choice of passage must be approved by the course teacher by the division of Lent Term. The project shall be submitted to the Programmes Administrator in the Faculty Office so as to arrive not later than the second Friday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

Is. 14. Arabic literature, 2

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will consist of four passages (not for translation), of which candidates will be required to choose two for discussion and analysis. Section B will consist of six essay questions, of which candidates will be required to attempt two. All questions will carry equal marks.

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