Description: 

The online Coptic Scriptorium Reading Group consists of a series of short term reading units focused on a particular Coptic text or corpus. The group will focus on reading, analyzing, and translating a set of Coptic texts found in the digital corpus of the Coptic Scriptorium project. We will also practice reading out loud. In addition, the reading units will introduce and demonstrate a variety of Coptic focused digital humanities tools. These include especially the Coptic Online Dictionary and tools for linguistic and corpus analysis. Participants will leave with stronger Coptic reading facility, grammar review, and an introduction to a range of open-access digital humanities tools for studying Coptic. 

Audience:

This group is perfect for Coptologists, historians, linguists, heritage learners, and hobbyists alike. All are welcome! The reading group and text/corpus sequence are designed for introductory and lower-intermediate level reading ability (1-2 semesters of instruction or a roughly equivalent amount of self-directed learning). In other words, some previous grammar training and knowledge of the alphabet will be presumed.

Email organizer (lcbm@ou.edu) if you would like to join or if you have questions about your fit for the group! Zoom link will be shared with the email list.

Schedule: 

Meet via Zoom for 1 hour 3x per week. 

Time:  10:00am EST | 9:00am CST | 7:00am PST

           4:00pm CEST | 3:00pm BST | 5:00pm EEST | 11:00pm JST 

Note: Attendance at all sessions within a series is not required. Moreover, the series can be taken sequentially, but it is not assumed or required. Feel free to drop-in as your schedule and interest allow! 

Fall/Winter 2023 Dates: 

  Sequence A:

    October 23rd, 25th, 27th, 30th, 1st, 3rd (6 hours total)

      Reading Material: Apothegmata Patrum Selections

  Sequence B

    November 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th (6 hours total)

      Reading Material: Ruth Selections

  Sequence C

    December 4th, 6th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 20th (8 hours total)

      Reading Material: Apothegmata Patrum Selections

  2024 Schedule TBD 

Note: Time and weekly meeting frequency of sequence B and C are subject to change based on group feedback. 

Group Organizer: 

Dr. Lydia Bremer-McCollum (she/hers) holds ten+ years of experience reading and translating Coptic. She has taught introductory and intermediate courses at Harvard and Princeton Universities. As part of the NEH funded Coptic Scriptorium project, she aims to create an online Coptic reading community focused on reading and utilizing the rich set of open-access tools. Feel free to contact her with any questions at lcbm@ou.edu