<p>So, I'm about to be a freshman at the U of C and I'd really love to take an NELC class as an elective my first year. (I have a longstanding interest in both the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt and the Old Babylonian Period; I'm a geek, I know.) </p>
<p>However, the class I'd really like to take, though it doesn't say it has any prerequisites, says in the course description that students "will read cuneiform texts." Any knowledge of the particular dialect of Akkadian that would be relevant here is self-taught. So, if no pre-reqs are mentioned, should I just assume the texts are in translation? And that I can take the class as a first-year?</p>
<p>Here's the entry, if that's of any help: </p>
<p>AKKD 20345. Topics in Old Babylonian Family Law. 100 Units.</p>
<p>We will read cuneiform texts and secondary literature relating to topics in OB legal history, including contracts, law cases, and administrative documentation of inheritance, marriage, adoption, property disputes, etc.</p>
<p>Instructor(s): M. Roth Terms Offered: Winter</p>
<p>Such classes are known as “text classes” - they’re the seminars students take after studying an ancient language for a year. In this instance, it presupposes the introductory year of Akkadian, which typically involves reading simpler texts (e.g. Hammurabi). </p>
<p>If you want a solid introduction to the language, it seems Stolper is teaching Akkadian in the fall. He is a rather demanding but good professor by all accounts, though I have not had him personally. Search around on CC - I seem to recall a Chicago student who took Akkadian this year.</p>
<p>Most of the Near Eastern history and archaeology courses will be in translation.</p>
<p>warblers: If you look at the catalog, there are a bunch of similar-seeming classes, some of which have prerequisites stated and some of which don’t, including classes taught by the same person. It’s possible that someone was just sloppy in copyediting the catalog, but it really looks like some courses don’t require that students have studied the language, and others are what you describe.</p>
<p>I know or have met several students who took Akkadian at Chicago, and they all seem to have enjoyed it a lot.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses everyone. I’m beginning to think I should hold off on that for now and maybe get the arts requirement out of the way. I’m absolutely dying to take Akkadian, but am torn between that and Latin or French. Anyone who has a suggestion is free to comment, lol. (I’m a kid in a candy store, except UChicago’s course catalog is SO much better than Snickers bars.)</p>