As part of its event series tgiFHI, the Franklin Humanities Institute is conducting interviews with its faculty speakers in order to familiarize broader audiences with the diversity of research approaches in the humanities, arts, and interpretive social sciences at Duke University. Dr. Fadi A. Bardawil is assistant professor of contemporary Arab cultures in the Department of Asian Studies and Middle East Studies. In this edited and condensed interview, he describes why translation and displaced meanings generate space for… read more about Meet Your Humanities Faculty: Fadi A. Bardawil »
Do you want to write your name in Hindi? Do you want to have a tattoo in Hindi or read signs in Hindi? The Hindi Program in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) is introducing a Hindi script workshop for students interested in learning Hindi or for students who already have listening and speaking skills, but want to improve their reading and writing skills. This workshop will cover the entire Hindi script. Event time: 3:00-6:00PM on Zoom. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1U7wzwspK4IdVZwOG5C13kfJU-… read more about Hindi Script Workshop on Sunday, January 10 »
This month we offer a collection of Duke-authored books that explore historical and current aspects of faith, spirituality and religious culture in society. These books along with many others are available at the Duke University Libraries, the Gothic Bookshop or the Regulator Bookshop. The Bible With and Without Jesus by Marc Zvi Brettler What It's About: Professor Marc Z. Brettler and co-author Amy-Jill Levine take readers on a guided… read more about Eight Duke Books on Religion and Spirituality »
The U.S. State Department’s School of Language Studies categorizes languages according to how difficult they are for native English speakers to learn. There are four languages in Category IV, the highest: Arabic, Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese), Japanese and Korean. They typically require 2,200 class hours before a language learner reaches “professional working proficiency.” Category III—1,100 hours for professional working proficiency—includes languages like Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Tibetan, Turkish and Urdu.… read more about Skilled Instruction Enables Language Mastery in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies »
This semester the students of Hindi 101 and Hindi 203 welcomed a special guest: poet and Bollywood lyricist Dr. Sagar, who conducted a workshop on Hindi poetry. His song "Bambai me ka ba?" is getting lots of media attention these days in India. Dr. Sagar started writing poetry at an early age and he shared lots of memories about his childhood when he was writing poems despite his financial situation. Nothing could stop him from fulfilling his dream to become a Bollywood lyricist. To prepare the class for his visit,… read more about Let’s Talk About Hindi Poetry »
Every semester, Kusum Ji always makes it her mission to provide students with fun and interactive activities to engage in the Hindi language and its culture. This semester was a little bit different due to the virtual environment of classes. Nonetheless, Kusum Ji made the impossible possible this semester with a virtual dance class with Rohini Thakkar from the Duke India Initiative. Rohini Ji has her own dance studio here in Cary, North Carolina where she specializes in Bollywood dancing. She has even choreographed and… read more about Bollywood Dance in Hindi Class »
A few weeks ago, our Hindi 203 class took a journey back to India to cook one of the tastiest dishes known to mankind: Vegetable Pulav (सब्ज़ी पुलाव) - a dish consisting of soft rice mixed with many vegetables. In previous semesters, our cooking days were filled with excitement. Our class would walk over together from west campus listening to some Bollywood music to get us into the festive mood. Walking into the kitchen at the John Hope Franklin Center, we’d smell a handful of aromas from chai to butter paneer. This… read more about Cooking Class in Hindi »
Workshop on Chinese Science/fiction and Ecocriticism November 30, 9:30am—3:30pm Please register at: https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEocuChqzMiHdW4qRTZuZMd7tn54tXFsSmW read more about News: Workshop on Chinese Science/Fiction and Ecocriticism »
AMES announces newly published books by language program faculty. Kunshan Carolyn Lee (Chinese Program in AMES) et al. have published Acting Chinese: An Intermediate-Advanced Course in Discourse and Behavioral Culture. Acting Chinese provides a unique and modern approach to the acquisition of both cultural knowledge and language proficiency. Read more. Kusum Knapczyk (Hindi Program in AMES) and Peter Knapczyk (Urdu Program in AMES) have published their book Reading Hindi: Novice to Intermediate… read more about New AMES Authors »
Here are recently published and forthcoming books by Duke authors, from September and October: Marc Zvi Brettler, co-author: “The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently” Annotated Edition (HarperOne, Oct. 27, 2020) Avshalom Caspi and Terrie E. Moffitt, co-authors: “The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life” (Harvard University Press) Samuel Fury Childs Daly: “A History of the Republic of Biafra: Law, Crime,… read more about New Great Reads from Duke Authors »
Alex Schnapp, a first-year associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, secured release on bond of an asylum seeker who fled Nicaragua due to threats and persecution he faced from government officials loyal to Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista regime. This man fled Nicaragua with his wife in mid-December of 2019 and was separated from his wife when they encountered immigration officers at the US–Mexico border. Alex appeared via telephone in Immigration Court and argued that this individual had a legitimate asylum… read more about AMES Alumni Alex Schnapp: A Small Victory in a Larger Fight »
AMES welcomes three new faculty members: Sarah Baker, Assistant Professor of the Practice; William Carroll, Postdoctoral Associate; and Eli Sperling, Postdoctoral Associate. Sarah Baker has a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (with a specialty in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Near East) from the University of Texas at Austin, where she taught both Biblical and Modern Hebrew for several years and received the student-nominated “Foreign Language Teaching Excellence Award.” William Carroll is a scholar of Japanese… read more about New Faculty in AMES! »
Vinod Kumar Shukla has long been recognized as one of India’s foremost writers with his unique stories that deal with 'smaller-than-life people.' Satti Khanna, who has translated a number of Vinod-ji's works into English, speaks with writer and translator Mohini Gupta about his remarkable-yet-mundane world, the startling originality of his voice and syntax, and the experience and challenge of translating him. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klAnuci_pC4 read more about AMES Professor Satti Khanna discusses the writing of Vinod Kumar Shukla »
Mbaye Lo, associate professor of the practice of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, wrote an opinion piece for Medium.com regarding the murder of George Floyd: "Most commentaries on the brutal murder of George Floyd have been concerned with the politics of policing. But the observed evidence at the scene of Floyd’s death indicates a need to cultivate an ethical culture in policing. Derek Chauvin’s callous expression and other officers’ indifferent attitude to the heartfelt pleas of both the victim and the citizen… read more about “I Can’t Breathe” is About Ethics, Not Politics »
We are very proud to announce the Fulbright recipients from AMES, along with their countries of study and project titles: Allison Geary, senior: Bahrain, English Teaching Assistant Jessica Marlow, senior: Taiwan, National Taiwan University Award in Global Health Andrew Tsai, senior: Taiwan, English Teaching Assistant. The Fulbright Program offers international educational and cultural exchange programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars,… read more about Congrats to AMES Fulbright Recipients! »
Watch videos from faculty and students, as they congratulate the recent graduates of the Class of 2020. From Faculty From Graduates Anisa Khalifa, a 2020 graduate of the Critical Asian Humanities (CAH) program, offers words of congratulations and best wishes to her fellow students. Natasha Rothenbucher, who graduated with high distinction with a… read more about Congratulations, Class of 2020! »
Greetings to our graduates and their families on behalf of the AMES department faculty and staff from Durham! The class of 2020 deserves special commendations for their accomplishments. We greatly admire your tenaciousness, determination and strength in making it to the finishing line in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis. We empathize with you for feeling the brunt of this pandemic during what should be the pinnacle of your time at Duke. You should have faith that you will all emerge as wiser, more mature and… read more about AMES Chair Marking the Moment 2020 »
Congratulations to the following student award winners from Duke University units in 2020. African & African American Studies John Hope Franklin Award for Academic Excellence: Elizabeth DuBard GrantlandKarla FC Holloway Award for University Service: Beza GebremariamMary McLeod Bethune Writing Award: Jenna ClaybornWalter C. Burford Award for Community Service: Kayla Lynn Corredera-Wells Art, Art History & Visual Studies … read more about Student Honors and Laurels for 2020 »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Eighteen Duke students and alumni have been awarded Fulbright placements to teach English, study and do research abroad during the 2020-2021 academic year.The Fulbright US Student Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, offering opportunities in over 140 countries. The Fulbright award is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries.The awards are announced on a… read more about Eighteen Duke Students And Alumni Awarded Fulbright Scholarships »
AMES Chinese Language Lecturer Yan Liu has received the Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award. This award annually recognizes one community partner, one faculty member and one graduating senior for their outstanding commitment to the ideals of service-learning. More info here. read more about Duke Service Learning Award »
AMES Professor Leo Ching has been awarded the Dean's Leadership Award. This award recognizes a group of people or an individual who have demonstrated exceptional leadership to the department, college or university through research, teaching or service. More info here. read more about Dean's Leadership Award »
During the weekend of January 29-31, about 20 participants filled the Duke Game Lab and—fueled by plenty of coffee, pizza, and snacks—joined minds to bring to life their ideas for games related to a common theme. At the same time, at 933 other sites around the globe, tens of thousands of people were doing the same thing. They were all participating in the Global Game Jam (GGJ), the world’s largest game creation event, where people interested in game development came together all over the world to design, develop, and… read more about Duke Hosts Global Game Jam (GGJ) Site »
The Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards recognize annually one community partner, one faculty member, and one graduating senior for their outstanding commitment to the ideals of service-learning. We are pleased to recognize the following award recipients for their excellent work: STUDENT RECIPIENT: Axel Herrera Ramos (Duke ‘20) Axel Herrera Ramos, a double major in Economics and Sociology, was born in Honduras and immigrated to the United States at the age of seven with his family. He… read more about 2020 Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award Winners »
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Mbaye Lo spoke at Duke's Black Muslim Atlantic Symposium at Duke University, discussing the conflicting narratives about Omar ibn Said, a black Muslim scholar captured in Senegal in 1807 and transported by boat to Charleston, S.C. Lo said scholars have underestimated Said's intellectual and scholarly training and his ability to use that training to compose something that had significant meaning. Read more in Religion News. read more about New research reconsiders writings of a Muslim slave and scholar »
For nearly 48 hours last weekend, about 20 participants filled the Duke Game Lab and—fueled by plenty of coffee, pizza, and snacks—joined minds to bring to life their ideas for games related to a common theme. At the same time, at 933 other sites around the globe, tens of thousands of people were doing the same thing. They were all participating in the Global Game Jam (GGJ), the world’s largest game creation event, where people interested in game development came together all over the world to design, develop, and present… read more about 48 Hours, Little Sleep, and A Lot of Pizza: Ph.D. Student Brings Global Game Jam to Duke »
Last week’s killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani has raised a number of legal and strategic questions for which there seem to be no consensus, including among Duke faculty. Charles J. Dunlap Jr., a professor of the practice of law and executive director of the law school’s Center on Law, Ethics and National Security, said President Donald Trump’s directive to kill Soleimani was “lawful self-defense” as authorized by the United Nations Charter, not an unlawful assassination. “Because Soleimani was engaged in… read more about Killing of Iranian Commander Raises Legal, Strategic Questions »
Beneath Duke University’s Perkins library, an unassuming, yet fiercely original approach to video games research is underway. Tied less to computer science and engineering than you might expect, the students and faculty are studying games for their effects on players. I was introduced to a graduate researcher who has turned a game into an experiment. His work exists between the humanities, psychology, and computer science. Some games, particularly modern ones, feature complex economies that require players to collaborate as… read more about Games, Art, and New Frontiers »
Asian & Middle Eastern Studies Professor Satti Khanna discusses translating works from poet and novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla. Read the full article in The Hindu. read more about Satti Khanna and the art of translation »
HarperCollins Publishers, in association with Oxford Bookstore, launched The Windows in Our House are Little Doors by Vinod Kumar Shukla, translated from Hindi by AMES Professor Satti Khanna, on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30PM. The dramatized reading by Kamal Pruthi was followed by conversations between Satti Khanna and Kamal Pruthi. read more about The Windows in Our House, Translated by AMES Prof. Satti Khanna, Launches in India »
A few weeks back I found myself back in the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies which is home to the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies program. Now a senior, I have had the privilege of taking Hindi classes since my first-year at Duke with Kusum ji. Each semester we come to the John Hope Franklin Center to have a fully immersive cooking class in Hindi. These cooking classes were always one of the most coveted classes of the semester since we got to make any dish we could decide on as a… read more about A Taste of India at the Franklin Center »