Learning objectives
The course Linguistics mod. A aims at an introduction to synchronic linguistics, i.e. the scientific investigation on linguistic processes and description of languages. In the end students will be able with (1) the recognition of the different branches and topics of linguistics, (2) the correct use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and the phonological transcription of Italian and possibly English, (3) the analysis of word-formations and (4) of syntactic dependencies and constituent functions in Italian and English sentences.
Following the Dublin descriptors, throughout the course students learn how
– to know language structures and the levels of language in theory;
– to practice and solve problems in synchronic linguistics;
– to autonomously analyze the levels of language, in which they will apply theoretical knowledge;
– to clarify the orders and causes of linguistic process within specific issues;
– to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the study of their chosen languages within the BA program.
Prerequisites
No specific requirements. A good command of the general grammatical rules and structures of any language can be useful for a more active participation to in-class activities.
Course unit content
– Foundations of general linguistics: synchrony and sub-categories.
– Speech apparatus, articulatory phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
– Phonology and the rules for a phonological analysis.
– Morphology and linguistic typology.
– The word-formation: derivation, composition, borrowings and calques.
– Foundations of generative syntax and drawing of syntactic trees.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Compulsory handbooks to take the exam:
– In-class notes, teaching materials and exercises on Elly.
– ASTORI, Davide & MUSCIANISI, Domenico Giuseppe. 2022. Quindici lezioni di linguistica. Parma: Athenaeum. ISBN 978-88-32-15850-2.
Further personal readings:
– GRAFFI, Giorgio & SCALISE, Sergio. 2024. Le lingue e il linguaggio. Introduzione alla linguistica. 4ª edn. Bologna: Il Mulino (to be published in September 2024).
– BERRUTO, Gaetano & CERRUTI, Massimo. 2022. La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. 3ª edn. Torino: UTET. ISBN 978-88-60-08663-1.
– DONATI, Caterina. 2016. La sintassi. Regole e strutture. 2ª edn. Bologna: Il Mulino. ISBN 978-88-15-26614-9.
Teaching methods
Traditional lecture with in-class and home exercises of analysis and reconstruction. Because the course is both introductory and technical, students are warmly invited to an active participation. Non-attending students can autonomously integrate lectures materials (slides in Elly) with the "further readings" as indicated in bibliography.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination in a single session with Historical Linguistics mod. B: 60 questions (multiple choice) within 70 minutes. The access to the oral part of the examination (2 questions) depends on the written result, that can be reassessed in a range of plus or minus 2 marks, depending on the answers to the oral examination (2 questions):
– less than or equal to 15: no admission.
– marks 16–17: compulsory oral examination.
– equal to or greater than 18: discretionary oral examination.
Final evaluation is here described more in detail:
– a fail depends on a lack of knowledge of the basic fundamental contents, a lack of technical vocabulary and failure in resolving the proposed exercises, a lack of autonomous judgement, analysis, argumentation and communication of the contents;
– scores 18–23/30 reveal minimal performance;
– scores 24–25/30 reveal an adequate performance;
– scores 28–30/30 reveal a very good performance and 30/30 cum laude reveals an excellent performance.
Other information
Lectures and in-class exercises consist of an occasion for strengthening and self-evaluation of the program. Students who cannot regularly attend lectures can download all the materials from Elly and can autonomously use the textbooks indicated as "further readings" in the bibliography section. Thus, they can take the exam as described in the specific section of this syllabus. There is no differentiation in exam program for attending and non-attending students. In any case, they can take an appointment with the lecturer during the office hours.
REGISTERING at the EXAM
For a complete procedure of access and registering of the exam Linguistica generale (integrato) – 12 CFU, on Esse3 platform, candidates must sign up for both "Scritto – esame parziale" and "Orale – esame con verbalizzazione". Esse3 is just the platform for the bureaucratic procedure, relating to administrative offices, not the instructor/professor. Candidates must be present both to the morning exam summon (written) and to the afternoon summon (oral). At the latter convocation, candidates can express their intentions relating to the registering of the exam: accepting or rejecting the written exam score without making the oral part otherwise making the oral part and then accepting or rejecting the full score (written+oral). In any case candidates can not accept only the written score and reject only the oral one. In any case registering out of the deadlines is not allowed. Absence at the oral convocation implicates that the exam will not be registered, even with a positive score in the writing test.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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