SANSKRIT - Elementary

The focus of Sanskrit 100AB is to introduce students to Sanskrit grammar, with a goal of developing the skills necessary to read basic, simple Sanskrit texts. Sanskrit 101A covers lessons 1–12 of the Devavāṇīpraveśikā [Robert P. Goldman and Sally J. Sutherland Goldman, 2004], including, the script, sandhi, the present system [vartamāne prayoga], the karmaṇi and bhāve prayoga-s, the laṭ, laṅ, and the loṭ, and bhūte kṛdanta-s, and past active participles, nominal stems in –a/ā, i/ī, u/ū, an, aḥ, iḥ, uḥ, ant, [t]ṛ, and in [for all genders]. Also covered are participles, relative and correlative constructions, questions, and a number of idioms, as well as tatpuruṣa [including nañ, prādi and gati, and upapada samāsas] and karmadhāraya samāsas. Students are expected to memorize for recitation one or more verses per week. Emphasis is placed on correct prosody and pronunciation. The class meets for six hours each week. The first twenty minutes of each class are spent in oral drills and recitation, replacing the traditional language lab., Tthe next hour is spent in intense grammatical instruction and practice, the final thirty minutes of class are practice in reading and writing in Sanskrit. There is daily homework and memorization. Attendance is required. There are two quizzes, two mid-term exams, and a final exam. No prior knowledge of Sanskrit is required.