Englund G. Middle Egyptian An Introduction. - Uppsala University -
Department of Egyptology, 1995. - 160 p.
Preface
This book is a slightly revised version of my book from 1988 Middle Egyptian An Introduction. The different look of it is mostly due to a more mode computer technique.
The book presents a short introduction to the Egyptian language suitable for use in beginning classes. It is meant as a simplified presentation of Middle Egyptian grammar according to Polotsky's analysis of the structure of the language. The aim has been to utilize the same approach and terminology without burdening the beginner with a critical analysis of the ideas involved. It is intended to introduce the student to the basic terminology and thus to prepare him or her for future studies of mode works dealing with ancient Egyptian grammar. This being the aim much in the book may appear oversimplified to the linguist and specialist in Egyptian grammar.
After many years of teaching beginners I have deemed it necessary to devote space to the definition of basic grammatical terms, attempting to compensate for the gaps in the teaching of grammar in today's schools. I hope that the terminology definitions will help the beginning student to overcome the problems of studying a foreign language of different structure.
The difficulty involved in leaing Egyptian is, however, not only that associated with grammatical structures but also one of leaing a new script. The many examples are intended to acquaint the student with frequently used signs and to assist in the acquisition of a basic vocabulary.
The hieroglyphs appearing in this book have been drawn by a computer using the program Glyph for Windows made by Hans van den Berg at the Centre for Computer-aided Egyptological Research at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
1 want to repeat my thanks to those who assisted in the elaboration of the previous version: my colleagues Paul J. Frandsen, Copenhagen, Lana Troy, Uppsala, and Britta Eriksson, Uppsala as well as to two students in Uppsala, Asa Strandberg and Geoffrey Metz who took over most of the new encoding of the hieroglyphs for this version.
Uppsala in May 1995 Gertie Englund
Preface
This book is a slightly revised version of my book from 1988 Middle Egyptian An Introduction. The different look of it is mostly due to a more mode computer technique.
The book presents a short introduction to the Egyptian language suitable for use in beginning classes. It is meant as a simplified presentation of Middle Egyptian grammar according to Polotsky's analysis of the structure of the language. The aim has been to utilize the same approach and terminology without burdening the beginner with a critical analysis of the ideas involved. It is intended to introduce the student to the basic terminology and thus to prepare him or her for future studies of mode works dealing with ancient Egyptian grammar. This being the aim much in the book may appear oversimplified to the linguist and specialist in Egyptian grammar.
After many years of teaching beginners I have deemed it necessary to devote space to the definition of basic grammatical terms, attempting to compensate for the gaps in the teaching of grammar in today's schools. I hope that the terminology definitions will help the beginning student to overcome the problems of studying a foreign language of different structure.
The difficulty involved in leaing Egyptian is, however, not only that associated with grammatical structures but also one of leaing a new script. The many examples are intended to acquaint the student with frequently used signs and to assist in the acquisition of a basic vocabulary.
The hieroglyphs appearing in this book have been drawn by a computer using the program Glyph for Windows made by Hans van den Berg at the Centre for Computer-aided Egyptological Research at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
1 want to repeat my thanks to those who assisted in the elaboration of the previous version: my colleagues Paul J. Frandsen, Copenhagen, Lana Troy, Uppsala, and Britta Eriksson, Uppsala as well as to two students in Uppsala, Asa Strandberg and Geoffrey Metz who took over most of the new encoding of the hieroglyphs for this version.
Uppsala in May 1995 Gertie Englund