77958 - Geography of Languages (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student acquires a full comprehension of the languages as cultural features linking the human communities to their territories, history and geopolitical evolution, with a particular analysis of the changes occurred in the spatial dimension of languages, in connection to acculturation processes and to linguistic policies. In this respect, the course will deal with the regional division of the European languages and with the EU language policy both in respect to minority languages and to the process of linguistic education of its citizens. The relationship between linguistic diversity and biological diversity will also be explored with a geographical focus on the issue of language death.

Course contents

The course will analyse the following issues:

§ Linguistic geography, geography of languages and linguistic maps

§ Language, identity, culture

§ Plurilinguismoand distribution of languages

§ Endangered languages

§ Cultural diversity and its promotion

§ Linguistic policies and less used languages in Europe

§ The languages in Europe and in the world: origin, diffusion, distribution

Readings/Bibliography

1) BRETON R., Geografia delle lingue, Venezia, Marsilio, 1978(Part 1 only). The book is out of print but photocopies may be obtained at the Library of the Dipartimento di Storia culture civiltà, in P.zza S. Giovanni in Monte 2. Ask for: "dispense per l’esame della Professoressa Magnani".

2) CAVALLI-SFORZA L-L., Geni, popoli e lingue, Adelphi, Milano, 2001.

3) CENCINI C., FORCONI G., La tutela delle lingue minori: il caso Europa, Bologna, Pàtron, 2011.

 

Further readings (these are not part of the programme but merely suggestions to students interested in the topics):

Avolio F., Lingue e dialetti d'Italia, Carocci, Roma, 2009

Crystal D., English as a global language, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003.

Crystal D., Language death, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.

Edwards J., Multilingualism, Penguin Books, London,1995.

Nettle D., Romaine S., Voci del silenzio. Sulle tracce delle lingue in via di estinzione, Carocci, Roma, 2001.

Phillipson R., English-only Europe? Challenging language policy, Routledge, London and New York, 2003.

Teaching methods

In presence lessons, supported by the use of power point presentations, available on the website: http://campus.unibo.it.

Students will be invited to share a participative attitude during the lessons, by presenting short researches to be done either individually or in small groups, and by participative methodologies such as games.

Assessment methods

The examination is an oral one for which students will have to register for on the AlmaEsami website.

Students attending the lessons will have a reduction in the amount of pages to study but will have to study the slides published on http://campus.unibo.it/.

For students attending the classes the exam will aim at testing their comprehension of the geographical, economical, social and cultural phenomena described during the lessons both by the teacher and the other students' presentations and discussed together. Participation to the discussion is a key element to evaluate the students, and with it personal reflection on the issues studied. Moreover, students will be evaluated on their communication skills and on the use of a correct terminology.

For students not attending the classes, the exam will aim at testing their comprehension of the geographical, economical, social and cultural phenomena studied, and during the exam they will be invited to propose a personal reflection on the issues studied. Moreover, they will be evaluated on their communication skills and on the use of correct terminology.

Teaching tools

The PowerPoint presentations used by the lecturer will be published on the website: http://campus.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Magnani