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Language VIb: Classical Chinese

Code: 101559
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
East Asian Studies OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Antonio Paoliello Palermo
Email :
antonio.paoliello@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

In order to attend Idioma VIb Xinès Clàssic, students must have previous knowledge of modern Chinese, especially in the areas of syntax and grammar.

  • Understanding written texts on themes concerning daily life. (MCRE-FTI A2.2.)
  • Understanding short and simple oral texts (MCRE-FTI A1.2.)
  • A good command of modern Chinese grammar
  • A good command of Chinese characters
  • Familiarity with dynastic history and the major schools of thought of the pre-imperial period.

Objectives

This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental principles of Classical Chinese.

Classical Chinese is not a spoken language but a written form used formally from the origins of Chinese writing to the literature of the early 20th century. Although no longer a living language, many expressions and grammatical structures from Classical Chinese are still present in both written and spoken modern Chinese. For this reason, the course focuses on the phonetic, morphological, semantic, generic, and discursive features of Classical Chinese.

In addition, the course Language VIb: Classical Chinese is designed to provide learners with tools that enhance their understanding and use of modern Chinese. It also incorporates key socio-cultural and historical insights relevant to the study of East Asian cultures.

Learning outcomes

  1. Developing self-learning strategies.
  2. Ensuring the quality of one's own work.
  3. Apply knowledge of lexis, morphosyntax, texts, rhetoric and linguistic variation.
  4. Apply strategies to understand written texts from various different contexts.
  5. Apply strategies to produce written texts for different contexts and for specific communicative purposes.
  6. Understand the communicative intent and the meaning of written texts from various different contexts.
  7. Produce written texts that are appropriate to the context and linguistically correct.
  8. Produce written texts for different contexts and for specific communicative purposes.
  9. Deal with interferences between the working languages.

Contents

  • Introduction to the basic features of Chinese writing and Classical Chinese as an autonomous linguistic and textual system.
  • Comparative analysis of the orthographic, lexical, morphosyntactic, and textual conventions of Classical Chinese in contrast with Modern Chinese.
  • Sociohistorical and cultural contextualization of Classical Chinese usage, with a focus on knowledge that enhances understanding of East Asian cultures.
  • Reading and philological analysis of original texts written in Classical Chinese from the pre-imperial period (especially from the late Zhou dynasty) and the Han dynasty, including literary, philosophical, and historiographical works.
  • Study and interpretation of classical texts that address issues related to sexual and gender diversity, approached critically and contextualized within the sociocultural framework of the time.
  • Knowledge of the major canonical works and authors of the classical Chinese period, with attention to their historical and intellectual contexts.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Learning of vocabulary 15 0.6
Expansion of knowledge 15 0.6
Documentation search 17.5 0.7
Individual or group translation of texts in foreign language 18.5 0.74
Problem solving and controlled exercises translation 13.5 0.54
Comprehensive and analytical reading of texts in foreign language 19 0.76
Preparation of texts and translations 30 1.2
Analysis of texts in foreign languages 18.5 0.74

The course is based on original texts from classical Chinese literature, such as anecdotes and excerpts from historical and philosophical works composed between the pre-imperial period and the 3rd century CE. The syllabus also includes texts that address issues of sexual diversity, which will be read and analysed philologically in order to foster a critical and inclusive perspective on the classical corpus.

Students will receive the texts in advance and are expected to prepare them independently. They should be able to read them aloud fluently and locate the relevant passages for analysis. This prior preparation is essential for keeping pace with the course.

In class, the instructor will lead a philological and annotated reading of the text, line by line. The focus will be on significant syntactic, grammatical, and lexical features, as well as questions of genre and interpretation. Key aspects will be illustrated with examples, and interpretive difficulties or translation alternatives will be discussed collectively.

Students are expected to take detailed notes on all these aspects, which will be considered acquired knowledge for working with subsequent texts. Active participation in the discussion and interpretation of the texts will be encouraged.

After the in-class work, students must submit an individual translation of the text by the deadline set by the instructor. They should also be prepared to justify their translation choices based on the content and discussions covered in class.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Knowledge test 20% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 5
Translation from classical Chinese to ES, CAT or EN 40% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9
Grammar test 40% 1 0.04 2, 3, 7, 8, 9

The course evaluation consists of three tests:

1. Knowledge test (20% of the final grade): it aims at testing the student knowledge regarding philological, historical, linguistic and cultural aspects of Classical Chinese as well as of the authors/texts studied during the course.

2. Grammar text (40% of the final grade): this part aims at testing the students understanding of Classical Chinese grammar and knowledge of traditional characters.

3. Translation (40% of the final grade): Students will be asked to translate two short texts from classical Chinese into Spanish, Catalan or English. One text will be drawn from those analyzed during the course. The other one will be a new, never-seen-before text. The use of digital tools is NOT permitted.

Related matters

The above information on assessment, assessment activities and their weighting is merely a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

Review

When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for.

The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failedor missed assessmentactivity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities.

Classification as \"not assessable\"

In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, their work will be classified as \"not assessable\" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Any irregularity committed during an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment. If multiple irregularities occur during assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any individual who commits any of these irregularities.

Use of AI technologies

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of the assessment activities. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will be graded a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated.

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in theacademic regulationsof the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the teacher responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

The final grade for the subject will be calculated according to the following percentages:

1. Knowledge test (20% of the final grade): it aims at testing the student knowledge regarding philological, historical, linguistic and cultural aspects of Classical Chinese.

2. Grammar text (40% of the final grade): this part aims at testing the students understanding of Classical Chinese grammar and knowledge of traditional characters.

3. Translation (40% of the final grade): Students will be asked to translate two short texts from classical Chinese into Spanish, Catalan or English. One text will be drawn from those available in the Moodle. The other one will be a new, never-seen-before text. The use of digital tools is NOT permitted.

Grade revision and resit procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this study guide.

Bibliography

Essential Bibliography:

The required texts for study (original works) will be available on the Virtual Campus before the session in which they will be covered. Additionally, it is mandatory to read the following texts to successfully complete the knowledge test:

Supplementary Bibliography:

  • Dawson, Raymond S. A New Introduction to Classical Chinese. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984.
  • Scarpari, Maurizio. Avviamento allo studio del cinese classico. Venice: Ca’Foscarina, 1999.
  • Syrokomla-Stefanowska, Agnieszka Dorota. A Classical Chinese Reader. Broadway, NSW: Wild Peony Pty Ltd, 1996.
  • Rouzer, Paul. A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center, 2007.

Online Dictionaries:

Others:

Software

Microsoft Word, Moodle, PowerPoint.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed