Learning objectives
The course Historical Linguistics mod. B aims at an introduction to the principles of the diachronic evolution of languages and to the concept of linguistic change. The investigation will delineate the comparative and historical method focusing on the reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European and the description of the Indo-European family. In the end students will be able with (1) the recognition of the most important linguistic aspects of Proto-Indo-European and the daughter languages, (2) the reconstruction of the most common Proto-Indo-European roots, and (3) the identification of the cultural treats that distinguish the Indo-European languages and peoples.
Following the Dublin descriptors, throughout the course students learn how
– to know language evolutionary processes in theory;
– to practice and solve problems in diachronic linguistics and reconstruction;
– 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 familirisation with the contents of module A on Linguistics might favour a more aware participation to in-class activities.
Course unit content
– Foundations of historical linguistics: language family and genealogical classification.
– Indo-European languages: description, geography, history and sources.
– Proto-Indo-European: foundations of linguistics and reconstruction.
– The linguistic change in phonology, morphology and syntax.
– Indo-European culture: linguistics, archaeology, anthropology, society and religion.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Compulsory handbooks to take the exam:
– In-class notes, teaching materials and exercises on Elly.
– LURAGHI, Silvia. 2016 [2021]. Introduzione alla linguistica storica. 2ª ed. Roma: Carocci. ISBN 978-88-290-0531-4 + the whole section of exercises.
Further personal readings:
– CAMPANILE, Enrico. 2005. Antichità indoeuropee (pages 9–37). In: Enrico Campanile, Bernard Comrie & Calvert Watkins. Introduzione alla lingua e alla cultura degli Indoeuropei. Bologna: Il Mulino. ISBN 978-88-15-10763-3.
– MILIZIA, Paolo. 2002. Le lingue indoeuropee. Roma: Carocci. ISBN 978-88-430-2330-1.
– CARDONA, Giorgio Raimondo. 2006 [3ª ed., 1985]. Introduzione all’etnolinguistica. Torino: Utet. ISBN 978-88-6008-048-6.
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 lecture materials (slides in Elly) with the "further readings" as indicated in bibliography.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination in a single session with Linguistics mod. A: 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 – parziale" and "Orale – completamento". Esse3 is just the platform for the bureaucratic procedure, relating to administrative offices, not the instructor/professor. In any case registering out of the deadlines is not allowed.
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. 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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