Usama Soltan
Surdna Professor of Linguistics and Arabic
- Office
- Voter Hall 016
- Tel
- (802) 443-5869
- usoltan@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- SPRING 2025: Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:00am, Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00pm, and by appointment.
Courses Taught
ARBC 0103
Beginning Arabic III
Course Description
Beginning Arabic III
This course is a continuation of ARBC 0102. 6 hrs. lect/disc (ARBC 0102 or equivalent)
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0201
Intermediate Arabic I
Course Description
Intermediate Arabic I
This course is a continuation of ARBC 0103. Emphasis is placed on reading authentic materials from Arabic media, expanding students' vocabulary, listening to and watching audio and video materials, and developing students' understanding of Arab culture and communicative competence. (ARBC 0103 or equivalent) 6 hrs. lect/disc
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0202
Intermediate Arabic II
Course Description
Intermediate Arabic II
This course is a continuation of Arabic 0201. Fifth in a series of courses that develop reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. This course stresses communication in formal and spoken Arabic. (ARBC 0201 or equivalent). 6 hrs. lect/disc
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0227
Arabic Sociolinguistics
Course Description
Arabic Sociolinguistics (taught in English)
In this course we will focus on the inter-relationships between the way Arabic is used by native speakers and the various social contexts affecting that usage. In particular, we will discuss the phenomenon of diglossia in Arabic speech communities (that is, the co-existence of Modern Standard Arabic with the vernacular Arabic dialects of today); aspects of linguistic variation and change in the Arab world; the relation between register and language; as well as the relation between language and such sociological variables as education, social status, political discourse, and gender. Readings are primarily drawn from sociolinguists' studies in the Arab world. (ARBC 0101 or instructor's approval)
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0301
Advanced Arabic I
Course Description
Advanced Arabic 1
A continuation of Arabic 0202. This course aims to help students reach an intermediate-high level of proficiency in reading, speaking, writing, listening, and culture. Readings include articles on cultural, social, historical, political and literary topics. (ARBC 0202 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect/disc. on T/R., plus a 50-minute lect time on Mondays TBD by enrolled students.)
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0302
Advanced Arabic II
Course Description
Advanced Arabic II
This course is a continuation of Arabic 0301. It aims to help students reach an advanced level of proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing Arabic, as well as to develop further an understanding of Arab culture. Readings include articles on cultural, social, historical, political, and literary topics. Course will be conducted entirely in Arabic. (ARBC 0301 or equivalent) 4 hrs. lect/disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0413
Upcoming
Arabic across History
Course Description
Advanced Readings: Arabic across History
In this course we will read a variety of Arabic texts representing different eras in the history of Arabic, from pre-Islamic times in the Arabian Peninsula until the modern era in the Arab world. Readings will be mostly drawn from Arabic poetry across its different eras, as well as from religious and historical texts. Other types of texts will be chosen in consultation between students and instructor. In addition to discussion of the linguistic features of texts, we will address their literary, historical, and cultural aspects. 3 hrs. sem. (ARBC 0302 or equivalent)
Terms Taught
Requirements
ARBC 0500
Upcoming
Independent Study
Course Description
Independent Study
(Approval Required)
Terms Taught
ARBC 0700
Upcoming
Senior Thesis I
Course Description
Senior Thesis I
Approval required.
Terms Taught
ARBC 0701
Upcoming
Senior Thesis II
Course Description
Senior Thesis II
Approval required.
Terms Taught
LNGT 0101
Upcoming
Introduction to Linguistics
Course Description
Introduction to Linguistics
In this course we will discuss the major issues and findings in the study of human language within theories of modern linguistics. The main topics include the nature of human language as opposed to other communication systems; sound patterns (phonology); word-formation (morphology); sentence structure (syntax); meaning (semantics); language and the brain; language acquisition; geographical and social dialects; and historical development of language and language change. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
LNGT 0250
Morphology and Syntax
Course Description
The Structure of Language: Introduction to Morphology and Syntax
In this course we will focus on two fundamental areas in the study of language structure: morphology and syntax. Morphology is the study of the internal structure of words and their meaningful parts (e.g., roots and affixes), whereas syntax studies how words are combined to form larger units (phrases and sentences). Linguistic data for illustration and analysis will be taken both from English and a variety of languages belonging to different language families to help us better understand the unity and diversity of human language with regard to word and sentence structure. The course is intended to enhance students’ skills in linguistic description and analysis, as well as general problem-solving and analytical reasoning skills.
Terms Taught
Requirements