Bachelor of Arts Honours: Ancient Languages
Communication Studies and Language - Language
Purpose and Rationale
Bachelor of Arts Honours: Ancient Languages
Purpose
The Bachelor of Arts Honours: Ancient Languages program aims to cultivate academic researchers in the field of language. Completion of this qualification will enhance knowledge, skills, and research outcomes in Ancient Languages. It also enables students to pursue Master's studies, expanding the pool of candidates for leadership roles in this field. Qualified graduates will contribute to the advancement of Ancient Languages by developing scientific and professional expertise in language, law practice, research, management, and education. Skilled professionals will enhance the quality of knowledge shared with the community by engaging in relevant policy issues, development, and implementation.
Moreover, this qualification seeks to:
- Foster interest in and understanding of antiquity, including its history, literature, philosophical ideas, religion, language, and culture.
- Encourage independent thinking, effective argumentation, and proficient problem-solving through engagement with knowledge from the ancient world.
- Engage in discussions on topics of ongoing significance and recognize the enduring impact of antiquity on the modern era.
- Provide a learning environment that facilitates a progressively deeper comprehension of ancient civilization subjects using appropriate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches.
- Encourage students to contribute their insights to academic discussions.
Rationale
The rationale behind the Bachelor of Arts Honours: Ancient Languages program lies in the intertwined historical relationship (geography, history, language system, language influence) among Semitic languages, Greek, and Latin in the ancient world. These languages emerged from a shared writing system and common scriptural texts (e.g., Tenak, Qumran texts, Quran, LXX, Peshitta, Greek New Testament, and Vulgate) used to develop and convey ethical, social, political, and religious ideas and visions. This is vital as it helps South Africa achieve its developmental and empowerment objectives by imparting an understanding of how ancient languages shape cultures and societies.
The study of Ancient Languages as an academic discipline underscores the interconnectedness of human culture. The skills and perspectives gained through this field are widely applicable across various professions, especially those involving human interaction. Delving into the diverse facets of ancient culture and languages, which have significantly influenced Western culture, equips South Africans to actively engage on the global stage alongside educated individuals from other Western nations.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of a wide range of themes and topics in the study of the ancient world to establish its relevance and influence on the modern period.
- Interrogate a number of ancient texts in their original script to understand their impact on cultures and society.
- Use a variety of methods, including historical debate, textual and literary analysis and philosophical discourse, for ancient language and textual interpretation.
- Research, plan and conduct relevant academic debates through engagement with specific research issues.
- Examine and explain the profound impact of the ancient world on later periods. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: This qualification aims to address all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Identify events and developments in the history and cultures of the ancient world and interpret their significance for the modern era.
- Research, describe, and analyse literature-based evidence on antiquity themes and topics in relation to today's world.
- Formulate solutions and answers to problems and questions based on lessons learned from happenings in the ancient world.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Read, analyse, translate, and interpret various ancient texts in their original script to understand their relevance to the present day.
- Interpret and analyse a core sample of ancient texts to understand their significance in the cultures they originated from.
- Analyse a core sample of ancient literature within its intellectual context.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Explain hermeneutical issues in relation to Ancient Languages.
- Evaluate and summarise ancient languages and texts in terms of their impact on society and culture.
- Read, comprehend, analyse, and interpret significant religious, classical, and historical texts with methodological soundness.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Conduct appropriate library and online research using informed, independent, and critical thinking in the study of Ancient Languages.
- Synthesise gathered information from primary text-based evidence and current research findings.
- Develop and present a coherent written research model supported by appropriate references.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Explain ancient civilisation in its original context and its impact on later periods.
- Identify problems and questions related to understanding the ancient world and develop and evaluate solutions during practical research.
- Use theories from Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines to construct concise and substantial research papers.
- Integrate languages, philological, and interpretative skills to analyze topics in Ancient Language studies.
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative and summative assessments are integrated, including research reports, presentations, fieldwork, scenario interpretation, cooperative learning tasks, analysis, practical demonstrations, critical literacy tasks, examinations, and an exit interview with the programme leader.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 134
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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