FF:KSCA002 Chinese Characters - Course Information

KSCA002 Chinese Characters

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Terézia Hegerová (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Zuzana Pospěchová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Petra Ludvová Hašková, DiS. (assistant)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Zuzana Pospěchová, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucia Mydliarová
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts

Timetable

Mon 14:00–15:40 B2.24

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Chinese Studies (programme FF, B-CS_) (3)
• Culture Studies of China (programme FF, B-HS)
• Culture Studies of China (programme FF, B-MS) (2)

Course objectives

The course gives basic information regarding the study of the Chinese writing system. It concentrates on the practise of writing Chinese characters. The theoretical part puts emphasis on the structural analysis of Chinese characters, its internal composition and divisions of Chinese characters according to graphical typology. Some examples are given to show the historical aspect of evolution of the Chinese characters. The practical part concentrates on the skill of correct writing and decomposing of characters with exercises and homework. The course is the first step into the study of writing i.e. into Chinese grammatology.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should be able to:
- understand theoretically basic information about the Chinese writing, to activate a grapfhical analysis and relevant terminology;
- apply the rules how to write correctly Chinese characters;
- identify respective graphical components
- work with Chinese dictionaries and type characters using a computer

Syllabus

• 1) General Introduction. Basic characteristics of Chinese characters. Elementary terms and concepts.
• 2) Basic strokes and their variations. Stroke order and directions.
• 3) Structural types of Chinese characters.
• 4) Introduction to selected radicals (1-5) and characters.
• 5) Introduction to selected radicals (50-100) and characters.
• 6) Introduction to selected radicals (100-150) and characters.
• 7) Introduction to selected radicals (150-) and characters.
• 8) Traditional and simplified characters - main principles (also continuously)
• 9) Development of Chinese writing (also continuously)
• 10) Conclusion

Literature

recommended literature
• ZÁDRAPA, Lukáš; PEJČOCHOVÁ, Michaela. Čínské písmo. Vyd. 1. Praha : Academia, 2009.
• DEFRANCIS, John. The Chinese language : fact and fantasy. Paperback edition. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1986, x, 330. ISBN 0824808665. info

Teaching methods

Practical writing exercises, homework for each week consisting of rewriting characters given in the workbook, documents in Moodle.

Assessment methods

A. The emphasis is put on weekly homework which must be submitted regularly during the semester. B. Written test consists of several theoretical questions about the Chinese writing; minimum pass level is 75%. The theoretical test is based on lectures.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači Kulturních studií Číny povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo Čínská studia je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujících.

Information about innovation of course.

This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2019, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2019/KSCA002