Reporter 9/12/98: Oriental Studies Tripos, Part I and Part II, and Preliminary Examination for Part I, 1999: Notice

Oriental Studies Tripos, Part I and Part II, and Preliminary Examination for Part I, 1999: Notice

The Faculty Board of Oriental Studies give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 1999, the form of the examinations for the Oriental Studies Tripos, Parts I and II, and the Preliminary Examination for Part I will be changed, as follows:

Preliminary Examination for Part I

Ar. 3. Arabic texts, 2

This paper will consist of six unseen passages in Arabic for translation into English. Candidates will be required to translate four passages. All questions will carry equal marks.

Ar. 4. Middle Eastern history and culture

This paper will consist of nine essay questions, of which candidates will be required to answer three. All questions will carry equal marks.

P. 2. Persian composition and grammar

This paper will contain grammatical questions with reference to one or two passages in Persian; questions on Persian grammar; and sentences for translation into Persian. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions.

Oriental Studies Tripos

Hebrew Studies

H. 1. Hebrew texts, 1

This paper will contain passages from specified biblical and post-biblical Hebrew texts, and will also include a passage in biblical Aramaic. Two questions will be set, both of which must be attempted. For the first question candidates will be required to translate into English seven passages from biblical texts, and to add short textual or philological comments. Only one passage from each biblical book should be attempted by candidates taking Hebrew Studies as a whole subject. Candidates taking Hebrew as a half-subject will have a free choice of passages. For the second question candidates will be required to translate into English three out of four passages from post-biblical texts, and to add comments.

H. 6. Mishnaic and medieval Hebrew

This paper will contain six questions on specified and unspecified texts, all of which must be attempted. In each question candidates will be required to choose one of two passages for translation and comment.

H. 14. Post-biblical Jewish texts

This paper will be divided into three sections. Section A will contain five passages for translation and comment, or for comment only, from prescribed texts in Hebrew, Jewish Aramaic, and Judaeo-Arabic. Section B will contain a passage of Mishnaic or medieval Hebrew for unseen translation. In Section C candidates will be required to choose between a further passage in Hebrew for translation into English and a passage in English for translation into Mishnaic or medieval Hebrew.

Japanese Studies

J. 2. Modern Japanese texts, 1

This paper will contain four passages for translation into English; three of these will be taken from texts covered during the year, and the fourth will be unseen. All questions must be attempted.

J. 5. Classical Japanese texts, 1

This paper will consist of selected passages for translation into English, taken from texts covered during the year, and a question on the content or style of each passage, which is to be answered in English. There will also be one unseen passage for translation into English. All questions must be attempted.

J. 12.  Japanese texts, 1
J. 13.  Japanese texts, 2
J. 14.  Classical Japanese texts, 2

Each of these papers will consist of two sections. In Section A candidates will be required to translate one unseen passage from Japanese into English. In Section B candidates will be required to translate from Japanese into English two passages from a selection of texts taught during the year. There will also be a short essay question, to be answered in English, on the style or content of each translated passage.

Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

Is. 6. Persian language, 2

This paper will contain one unseen passage of Persian for translation into English; two unseen passages of Persian to be summarized in English; and one passage of Persian on which grammatical and linguistic questions will be asked. Candidates will be required to attempt all four questions. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 9. The history of the Islamic world

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will contain eight essay questions; Section B will contain passages in Arabic or Persian for comment (not to be translated). Candidates will be required to answer four questions, at least two from Section A and one from Section B. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 11. Arabic language, 3

This paper will consist of one passage of non-literary modern Arabic for translation into English, two passages of not more than 500 words in length, for summary or comment in English, and one question offering a choice of at least four topics for an essay in Arabic of not less than 300 words. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 14. Arabic literature, 3

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 four essay questions, of which candidates will be required to attempt two. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 16. Persian language, 3

This paper will consist of two unseen passages of classical Persian for translation into English, and one passage of Persian on which grammatical and linguistic questions will be asked. Candidates will be required to attempt all three questions. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 20 Islamic history, 1

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will contain three essay questions, of which candidates will be required to attempt one. Section B will contain four passages in Arabic for translation and comment, of which candidates will be required to attempt two. All questions will carry equal marks.

Is. 21 Islamic history, 2