The Languages, Resources and Plans:
[My old blog for reference: 2017 Blog]
Hebrew
The Resources:
- Biblical Hebrew: Text and Workbook 2nd Edition by Kittel, et al.
- Readings in Biblical Hebrew: An Intermediate Textbook by Ben Zvi, et al.
- Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
- A Grammar of Biblical Hebrewby Joüon and updated by Muraoka. [as needed]
- The Routledge Introductory Course in Modern Hebrew by Etzion [optional]
The Plan:
I've managed to get pretty far in my Biblical Hebrew textbook. I have gotten up to around lesson 29. My overall goal is to finish the textbook (which I'd like completed before Spring hits), and then read some biblical Hebrew. At some point this year I'd like to start in on the intermediate textbook I just acquired (literally ), but I wouldn't mind a break from active study for a bit (which will probably happen over the summer).
For Modern Hebrew, I'd like to try to make it through my textbook. As this is supplemental to my Biblical Hebrew studies, I'm not too worried about it at the moment.
Japanese
The Resources:
- 「みんなの日本語初級第2版本冊」Textbook I and II by 3A.
- Basic Japanese: A Grammar and Workbook by Hamano and Tsujioka
- Japanese Graded Readers by Ask Publications, Level 0 Vol 1 [and other vols and levels upon completion]
- 齋藤孝のイッキによめる! 名作選小学1年生 新装版
The Plan:
As I seriously want to got to Japan for a while sometime within the next few years, I'd like to complete the beginner level of MnN (meaning both textbooks). That will be my goal this year. In fact that is the goal for this year! Next year I hope to move on to the intermediate textbooks. I also wouldn't mind some alone time with Japanese at some point this year. We need to rekindle our relationship.
I'll try to make that special time happen over the end of Spring and through the summer. In fact, I'd love to finish both textbooks by the end of summer. I'm almost half way through the first volume now.
Irish
The Resources:
- Teach Yourself Irish by Dillon and Ó Cróinín
- Set of three Readers (w/audio) by Breacadh written in Munster Irish
- An Tigh Glas agus scéalta eile by Mac Suibhne
- Séadna (w/audio book) by Peadar Ua Laoghaire [supplemented with: https://www.scoilgaeilge.org/lessons/seadna/seadna.htm]
- My Cork Irish Dictionary [and other dictionary references as needed]
The Plan:
It's pretty simple for Irish. Finish my textbook (TYI) and then read, read, and read some more. I'm currently on lesson XII out of XXVII. I want to complete my textbook no later than March 17th. At some point it would be nice to go through Ó Sé's grammar, but I don't know if that will be this year or not. I also have (in pdf format) The Grammatical Structure of Munster Irish by Alan Ward. That might be fun to pick through at some point.
Seneca
The Resources:
- Conversational Seneca language course facilitated by the Seneca Nation
- Seneca Language Supplement
- Fundamentals of Seneca
- English - Seneca Dictionary by Chafe, et al.
- A Grammar of the Seneca Language by Chafe [as needed]
- Any other resources offered in the future by the Seneca Language website.
The Plan:
First priority is to go as far as I can and make the most of the wonderful resource that is the conversational language course. Other than that it's to pick up as much as I can from the other resources I have and come across. Unfortunately I can't get any more concrete than that due to the resources I have to work with. Depending on how far these things take me, and how long the course is, I may entertain the idea of learning another Iroquoian language at some point this year.
Polish
The Resource:
- First-Year Polish by Swan [including supplementary workbooks for independent study]
The Plan:
I really want to stat learning some of the other heritage languages of mine. Polish and German. My plan for Polish is to start it sometime after I have finished my active study of Hebrew and Irish. At this point I'm not sure if I'll start it in the summer or the fall. I do not expect to finish my textbook, but to get as far as I can in relation to when I start. I will be starting Polish by Fall for sure.
German
The Resources:
- Living German 7th Edition by Buckely, rev by Coggle
- German with Ease (Assimil) by Roemer, trans. by Pfeiffer
The Plan:
See Polish. German may end up waiting for a bit though. We'll see.
Others
If there is time and energy to do so, I would like to revisit my study of the Arrandic languages. I don't know if I will want to pick up Arrernte again or go with Kaytetye first this time. I'll figure it out if/when I get there.
I would also like to pick up some Aleut and/or Inupiaq if possible.
Last by not least I wouldn't mind refreshing my knowledge of Classical/Koine Greek and also picking up some Latin.
All of these, of course, depend on how the main languages go above.
The Battle Strategy
Concidering that my time is consumed with my thesis and other things to finish up before my MA is complete, I think it might behoove me to focus on one or two languages at a time. So:
Winter and Early Spring: Hebrew and Irish
Late Spring and Summer Japanese (and Irish?)
Fall: Polish (and German?)
I do not envision this as only doing the one or two languages listed. Rather, they will be the focal point of study and more time and effort will be given to these languages than others.