The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC) engages in the interdisciplinary humanistic study and teaching of the cultures of the Near East (often called the Middle East) as they express themselves in languages and texts, including both written and oral sources, as well as art, architecture, archaeology and material culture.
News
Dr. Peter Gran the latest guest of the Modern Egyptian Studies Forum
On June 3, the Modern Egyptian Studies Forum was honored to welcome Dr. Peter Gran of Temple University. Conducted as a conversation with Mirna Wasef (University of California, San Diego) and Joel Gordon (University of Arkansas), Dr.
Modern Egyptian Studies Forum Launches with Alexander Kitroeff
Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations today launched the first event of the Modern Egyptian Studies Forum. Alexander Kitroeff of Haverford College discussed his book The Greeks and the Making of Modern Egypt (American University in Cairo Press, 2019). Penn panelists were Dr.
Fatemeh Shams receives Humboldt Foundation Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Persian literature, Fatemeh Shams has been awarded a 14-months long fellowship by the
Remembering Dr. Tajmah Assefi-Shirazi
It is with the deepest sadness we announce the passing of Dr. Tajmah Assefi-Shirazi on July 5 after a brief illness. Tajmah taught Farsi through the Penn Language Center from 1992 up until her death.
PhD candidate, Mina Khalil, has been named a 2020 School of Arts & Sciences Dean's Scholar
Mina was nominated by the department for his outstanding work in the field of Middle Eastern Literatures & Societies.
Congratulations, Mina!
NELC Professor, Dr. Richard Zettler, awarded $2 million State Department Grant
The preservation of important sites and artifacts critical to the heritage and history of Iraq – and indeed, the world – is a passion of Dr. Richard Zettler. The US Department of State agreed, awarding him and PENN alum Dr.
Announcing the NELC Newsletter!
We have so much to tell you. It only made sense to put it all in one place. Somewhat delayed by COVID 19, it nevertheless highlights the programs and accomplishments of faculty, students and alumnae over the past 18 months.
Check back for our next issue due out late in 2021.
If you want to be added to our mailing list or have news you'd like to share in the newsletter, please send a request to lmgreene@sas.upenn.edu.
Click here to view or download our very first issue!
2020 NELC NewsletterEvents
Tea Time!
Turkish tea in Turkish class
New Series: Bite-Sized Talks
Our first event: The Arabesque Table
Dr. Reem Kassis
Books
The Grammar of Perspective: The Sumerian Conjugation Prefixes as a System of Voice
The so-called Sumerian conjugation prefixes are the most poorly understood and perplexing elements of Sumerian verbal morphology.
