Teacher: Professor Dr Saloumeh Gholami, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Class Level: Beginners
Class Schedule 2023-24: Thursdays from 13:00-14:00 UK Time (you can check time-zone comparisons on sites such as this one)
Class Length: 1-term class (Michaelmas Term 2023) (Oxford dates of term are available on the University website)
Class Description: In this course, we will explore the fascinating world of Judeo-Hamadani, an endangered Jewish language primarily spoken in the Hamedan city of Iran. Drawing from various disciplines such as linguistics, history and cultural studies, we will examine the linguistic structure, historical significance and cultural context of Judeo-Hamadani.
Key topics include:
- History of Judeo-Hamadani
- Phonology
- Morphology
- Syntax
- Semantics
By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of Judeo-Hamadani and its significant role in the cultural tapestry of Jewish and Iranian cultures. No previous knowledge of Judeo-Hamadani is required to take this course.
This course is suitable for students of linguistics, history, cultural studies, or anyone with an interest in endangered languages and cultural preservation.
Reference Materials:
-Borjian, Habib (2014), ‘Judeo-Iranian Languages’, in Handbook of Jewish Languages, edited by Lily Kahn and Aaron D. Rubin, Brill, pp. 235-286.-Gholami, Saloumeh (2021), ‘Judeo-Hamadani: The Language of Jews in Hamadan and Its Origins’, in Iranian Studies, vol. 54, 2021, issue 5-6, pp. 769-805, available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00210862.2020.1848420.-Sarshar, Houman (2012), ‘HAMADĀN viii. JEWISH COMMUNITY’, in Encyclopædia Iranica, XI/6, pp. 615-623, available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hamadan-viii.-Stilo, Donald (2012), ‘HAMADĀN ix. JEWISH DIALECT’, in Encyclopædia Iranica, XI/6, pp. 623-627, available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hamadan-ix.