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BIRKBECK University of London
Academic Year:
2014-15
Module Title:
Introduction to Sumerian 2
Module Code:
SSHC280H4-ACB
Subject Area:
Archaeology
Award:
Certificate of Higher Education
Class Venue:
tbc
First meeting:
Wednesday 14th January 2015, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Module taught by:
Adam Stone
Module Description
This module deals with the Sumerian language as it was used in the second millennium BC
(Old Babylonian period), when Sumerian was no longer a spoken language. The vast
majority of Sumerian literature is known from manuscripts dating to this period, and these
manuscripts were written by scribes whose mother language was Akkadian. Their Sumerian
texts can therefore show influences of Akkadian grammar and syntax.
Every week we will examine a Sumerian text which the students have prepared for class
room reading: beginning with some bilingual Sumerian-Akkadian royal inscriptions, we shall
next study a Sumerian myth or legend known from Old Babylonian manuscripts. Details of
Sumerian grammar will be discussed each week, and we shall explore the rich corpus of
Sumerian literature of the Old Babylonian period throughout the course.
Successful completion of Birkbeck's two-term course Introduction to Akkadian and the
cuneiform script, or an equivalent, and Introduction to Sumerian I is an entry requirement for
this course.
Entry Requirements
This course forms part of the Certificate in History and Archaeology. There is a formal entry
requirement for this course, which is a successful completion of Birkbeck's two-term course
Introduction to Akkadian and the cuneiform script, or an equivalent, and Introduction to
Sumerian I. Introduction to Sumerian is designed for students who know the Akkadian
language, understand the principles of cuneiform writing, and are able to identify cuneiform
signs with the help of a sign list. Some understanding of language description and
grammatical terms will also be helpful in the acquisition of Sumerian. All modules are taught
at university level, and students should be able to read, write and speak English fluently to
benefit from their studies.
Aims and Outcomes
The main aim of the course is that students should build on the skills introduced in
Introduction to Sumerian 1, and develop their understanding of the Sumerian language and
monumental script. We will read more advanced Sumerian texts, for example lengthy Royal
Inscriptions and Sumerian myths and legends known from Old Babylonian manuscripts.
By the end of the course students should have a solid knowledge and understanding of the
Sumerian language, the development in its understanding, and the archaic ductus of the
cuneiform script. Students should be able to think critically about what they have heard, read
and seen and they should have completed and been assessed on their coursework.
Teaching and Learning
The 10 two-hour class meetings will include short lectures, grammatical presentations, textbased work by students and feedback. Handouts will be provided. Students are expected to
practise each week’s material by means of homework exercises. Class meetings are
designed to be highly interactive and student participation is encouraged.
Learning Sumerian is a challenging task. Its structure is quite unlike European and Semitic
languages and there are no known cognate languages that could help elucidate its rules.
Modern understanding of Sumerian is therefore founded on Akkadian translations of
Sumerian texts, and the analysis of the way it was expressed in the cuneiform script.
Participation in the course is therefore restricted to students who know Akkadian and
understand the basic principles of cuneiform writing.
Coursework and assessment
Students taking accredited courses will be expected to prepare coursework for formal
assessment and such other coursework as is appropriate for the teaching and learning on
the course. Students must attend at least 50% of the meetings to qualify for assessment.
Students’ knowledge and skills will develop through participation in class work and through
individual research in the form of written work outside class hours. Homework is a
fundamental element of the course and students are strongly encouraged to spend several
hours per week, in addition to class time, on independent learning.
Independent coursework will consist of take home exercises aimed to improve student
abilities in independent deciphering and translating of Sumerian texts. Developing the
relevant study skills is an integral part of the course and guidance and support in relation to
all coursework will readily be given.
The coursework for formal assessment will consist of two assignments:
 one written exercises relating to the essential features of Sumerian grammar (50% of
total);
 one written exercise relating to slightly more complicated constructions (50% of total);
Course Content
1. From a review of the Sumerian grammar first covered in Introduction to Sumerian 1,
we will quickly move on to longer texts, sections from some of the most impressive
texts from the ancient world, e.g. the Cylinders of Gudea, and The Curse of Akkade.
2. We will then move on to extracts from the Royal Hymns and the Royal
Correspondence of the Third Dynasty of Ur (2112-2004 BC).
3.
Finally, we will look at sections from 2nd millennium copies of ritualised songs
addressed to the ancient deities of Mesopotamia.
Other activities
Students will also be informed of, and are invited to, all pertinent Assyriological lectures and
events that will take place in the Bloomsbury area in the course of the academic year; details
for many of these events can be found in the London Diary for the Ancient Near East
(http://www.soas.ac.uk/nme/ane/ldane/).
Course bibliography
Basic Course Book:
VOLK, K. 1999. A Sumerian Reader (second, revised edition). Studia Pohl: Series Maior 18.
Rome: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico
Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own copy of this inexpensive and
brilliant study guide. Check http://www.deastore.com (and select category "Italian
books") for purchasing.
Sumerian grammar:
The following concise introductions into the grammar of the Sumerian language will be used
in the course:
BLACK, G. 2007. Sumerian. Pp. 4-30 in: POSTGATE, J.N.: 2007. Languages of Iraq, Ancient
and Modern. London: British School of Archaeology in Iraq
FOXVOG, D.A. 2012. Introduction to Sumerian Grammar (revised May 2012):
http://home.comcast.net/~foxvog/Grammar.pdf
MICHALOWSKI, P. 2008. Sumerian. Pp. 6-46 in: R.D. W OODARD (ed.), The Ancient Languages
of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Aksum. Cambridge University Press
ZÓLYOMI, G. 2005. Sumerisch. Pp. 11-43 in: M.P. STRECK (ed.), Sprachen des alten Orients.
Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft
For a more comprehensive description of the Sumerian language see:
EDZARD, D.O. 2003. Sumerian Grammar. Leiden: Brill (affordable paperback reprint by the
Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, 2006)
JAGERSMA, A.H. 2010. A Descriptive Grammar of Sumerian (dissertation University of
Leiden). https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/16107
THOMSEN, M.-L. 1984. The Sumerian Language: An Introduction to its History and
Grammatical Structure. Mesopotamia 10. Copenhagen: Akademisk Verlag (third edition
2001)
Dictionary and glossaries:
The Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary: http://psd.museum.upenn.edu/epsd/index.html
FOXVOG, D.A. 2012. Elementary Sumerian Glossary (revised May 2012):
http://home.comcast.net/~foxvog/Glossary.pdf
Text editions:
ZÓLYOMI, G., TANOS, B. & SÖVEGJÁRTÓ, S. 2008-. The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian
Royal Inscriptions: http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/index.html
Specific text editions will be provided in class.
Background Reading:
CRAWFORD, H. 1991. Sumer and the Sumerians. Cambridge University Press
KRAMER, S.N. 1963. The Sumerians: Their History, Culture and Character. The University of
Chicago Press
POSTGATE, J.N.: 1994. Early Mesopotamia: Society and Economy at the Dawn of History
(new edition). London and New York: Routledge
Library and study skills resources
You may find the following web links helpful for your studies.
 For information on the resources available for history students through Birkbeck
College Library, including on-line books, reference works, journals, catalogues, and
search
tools.
There
is
material
available
at
the
website
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/socialscience/history but please note for
Certificate and Diploma students some of the access schemes shown on these
pages are only available to degree students for further information please refer to
Aubrey Greenwood, Archaeology Subject Librarian.
 For guidance on study skills, including essay and report writing, research and
referencing, go to http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/studyskills.
Course Evaluation
During the course students will be asked to complete an evaluation form which gives the
opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of their learning experience.
Further Information
For further information on issues such as student support, plagiarism and procedural
guidelines, please consult the History and Archaeology Student Handbook available on
Moodle: http://moodle.bbk.ac.uk/