GENERAL LINGUISTICS AND INTERLINGUISTICS
cod. 1010260

Academic year 2022/23
1° year of course - Annual
Professor responsible for the course unit
Davide ASTORI
integrated course unit
12 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

The two Units aim a deaper knoledge in the discipline of "General Linguistics", in the context of the descriptors of Dublin still focused for the LT course.

Prerequisites

have taken a "General Linguistics" course in LT

Course unit content

Unit 1 "General Linguistics" (D. Astori)
The course will consist of an introduction to the ancient Egyptian writing system in comparison with other ideographic scripts (not least the sign languages) in a pasigraphic perspective, with the aim of reflecting on the one hand on the existence of possible ideographic universals , on the other hand on the meaning of a "universal writing" in itself.

Unit 2 "Interlinguistics" (D. Astori)
The course for 'Interlinguistics' will develop on three main streams: 'contact', 'planning', 'creativity'. Each one will be presented as a sort of module, with an initial theoretical introduction to the phenomenon and a series of examples which illustrate the more concrete implications. About these ones, in relation to the first one will show aspects of contact and interference between languages (from the semantic or structure point of view), dedicating a minimum space also to Yiddish, emblematic in its nature of 'Mischungsprache'; in relation with the second, we will initially reflect on the planning processes (the Ladin and Sardinian realities will be the natural context of the presentation), and, after a classification of artificial languages, some more interesting projects will be reviewed (for example, a musical language such as the Solresol, or the Europanto by Diego Marani, or even Esperanto), and at least one lesson will be devoted to the problems related to the linguistic situation in a European Union in search of vehicular languages (in a debate that is divided between ecology and linguistic democracy); the third will deal with creations for artistic use (in literature, in cinema, etc.). There will also be an in-depth analysis of the relationship between language and identity, a subject re-read in the light of a deliberately "heterodox" approach (in the sense of André Martinet's successful definition of "Interlinguistics" in 1989 as "the heterodox branch of Linguistics"). Then there is the intention to invite some external experts. As an introduction read: https://www.treccani.it/magazine/chiasmo/extra/IUSS_intervista_astori.html

Full programme

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Bibliography

De Saussure F., "Cours de Linguistique générale" [CLG], Payot 1916 - diacronic part from §193, p. 171 dell'edizione della Laterza a cura di T. De Mauro). Specific bibliography will be given during the lessons.

Unit 2
D. Astori, "Interlinguistica. Pianificazione, creatività, contatto", Athenaeum, Parma 2019. D. Astori, Homaranismo. Un credo “neutrale – umano” per ilmondo, UniNova, Parma 2021.
More bibliography will be given during the lessons.

Teaching methods

The topics of each module are covered in 15 lessons of two hours each. At the end of each lesson, the teacher dedicates a reception hour to the students in his office, specifically intended for clarification on the topics covered in class or on the readings to be prepared for the exam.
The teaching, normally consisting of lectures and seminar activities, this year, following the pandemic emergency, will be offered online (with meetings that coincide with the lesson times). These online meetings will take place on Teams at the link that will be found on Elly.

Assessment methods and criteria

For both the units, the final test is performed with oral exam at the end of the course. They are established in both the foreground as to discipline both capacita'discorsive and argumentative student.
For the assessment questions on the different parts of the program are intended to verify:
- The proper critical understanding of the features and the main hubs of discipline and distance covered;
- The ability to collect data and interpret them critically, and formulate judgments and self-motivated on them and on the socio-cultural context in which they occur;
- The ability to develop clear cross paths.

Evaluation criteria:
- Clear description, of language, ability to rework content, ability to interdisciplinary links, use of specialized vocabulary, relevant answers than questions.

Sufficiency will be reached in the event of a correct answer to 60% of the questions in respect of the above criteria.

About the distribution of the overall score of the vote, up to 8 points are related to the knowledge of the text of Saussure, up to 8 to the indicated volume, up to 8 to the programme discussed in class; you will earn up to 3 points with an (optional) paper agreed with the teacher during the course, and up to 3 will be gained through the interaction within the classroom activities.

Other information

who never didi "General Linguistics" in LT, please contact the teacher before the beginning of the semester

2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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