04336 - Semiotics (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The student , at the end of the course, has acquired a good knowledge of the basic concepts of the discipline and the ability to make semiotic analysis of texts, especially narrative texts.

Course contents

The first part of the course will examine and explain, starting from concrete cases, the bases of linguistic theory, semiotics and lexical semantic analysis with practical exercises; the second part will provide the theoretical tools to address the semio-narrative text analysis.

The lessons will focus mainly around the following themes:

I week: Signs, signification and communication.

II week: bases of linguistics (phonetics / phonology, morphology, syntax).

III week: Comparison of different systems of signification; Images and words.

IV Week: Lexical Semantics: the paradigmatic relations; with practical exercises.

V week: Lexical Semantics: the syntagmatic relations; with practical exercises.

(Pause for intermediate examination, reserved for students attending the course).

VI week: System / Process; Expression / Content etc...

VII week: For a semiotic redefinition of 'text': textual structures; the interpretative cooperation. The semantic analysis of a text: lexemes and isotopies (with practical exercises).

VIII week: The semio-narrative structures: fabula / plot; ideological structures (values) and actantial structures; mode and narrative programs.

IX week: Case studies and exercises practices of analysis of narrative texts.

X Week: The discursive structures: the enunciation; author and reader.

Readings/Bibliography

1. G. Yule, Introduzione alla linguistica, Bologna: Il Mulino, 2008 (nuova ed.), capp. I-IX.
2. C. Marmo, Segni, linguaggi e testi: semiotica per la comunicazione, Bologna: BUP, 2014.
3. (per la seconda parte del corso) G. Marrone, Introduzione alla semiotica del testo, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2011.

Teaching methods

The course will be divided into two parts.

In the first part, will be presented, starting from concrete cases, the basic concepts of linguistic theory, semiotics, lexical semantic analysis with practical exercises. The method will be mainly that of the classical lesson. The practical exercises in lexical semantic analysis will be carried out with the self-correction method, or collective discussion of the results of an analysis-model.

The second part, dedicated to the narrative analysis of texts, will involve several practical exercises.

 

In general, the classes attendance is highly recommended

Assessment methods

The exam consists of:

-  a mid-term written test (in progress), reserved for students attending the course, on the first part of the course + a final written test;

- or, for non-attending, in a comprehensive written exam.

The  mid term test will consist of three open-ended questions, aimed at ascertaining:
1. mastery of the basic theoretical and analytical tools developed by linguistics and semiotics, examined during the course of the first part of the course;
2. ability to analyze different semiotic and communicative phenomena with those theoretical tools.
3. ability to conduct, with the aid of one or more dictionaries, the semantic analysis of a word of the Italian language.

 
The final exam consists of three open-ended questions to ascertain:
1. mastery of the narrative theories in the field of semiotics;
2. ability to use semiotic tools in the analysis of a short narrative text, with particular reference to the semantic structures (isotopies ideological estrutture)
3. and the narrative structures (narrative and actantial relations programs).

The vote of the first part is valid for two exams' sessions more.

Non-attending students, in addition to those who have not passed the intermediate exam, will address only one exam, including six open-ended questions.



Exam registration is done online from the website:

https://cas.unibo.it/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Falmaesami.unibo.it%2Falmaesami%2Fstudenti%2Fj_acegi_cas_security_check&cas_aware_sessionid=ABAE121C1B55B3B5E707F04310399793.mic-joss1.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Maria Lorusso