31300 - English Linguistics and Language 3 (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The students are expected to possess an excellent knowledge of the most relevant theoretical aspects of a descriptive-analytical model of the English language applied to illustrative examples of different text-types, with the aim of understanding their major lexico-grammatical and semantic features, along with the contextual variables which tend to determine them. They are expected to be competent in all four communicative skills at the C-1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Course contents

The course is for those who have already done the first and second year of Lingua e linguistica inglese. If you are an Erasmus student or for whatever reason have not done these prior exams, please get in touch with your professor as soon as possible before the beginning of the course.

Integral parts of the course:

A) Lectures: taking place in the second semester;

B) Practical language classes (Esercitazioni) held by the language expert instructors (CELs) Dott.ssa Eleonora Maldina and Dott. Ashley Phillis, taking place in both the first and second semester.

NB: The Linguistics course (Lectures) will start in the second semester, while language classes will start in the first semester.

The mode of delivery will be in presence, following the University rules.

 

A) Lectures

“Analysing Meaning in Human- and Machine-Mediated Texts”

The course aims to foster theoretical and applied metalinguistic knowledge by adopting text analysis as the methodological foundation (or: knowledge through text analysis). More specifically, the course develops meaning-oriented analytical competence through the analysis of human- and machine-mediated texts. Students learn to analyse how meaning is construed, transformed and negotiated across human and machine mediation and to appreciate how close linguistic analysis can reveal different ways of construing the multiple dimensions of meaning across text types (including professional translations, students’ translations, edited texts, multilingual websites, machine-translated and AI-generated texts) pertaining to different domains. Students are also introduced to linguistically informed post-editing as an application of meaning-oriented text analysis. The practical framework draws on systemic functional linguistics, which has long provided translation scholars with a robust model for analysing how meaning is construed in context. This perspective offers students principled tools for analysing human- and machine-mediated texts on the basis of linguistic evidence rather than intuitive judgements.

 

B) Practical language classes (Esercitazioni)

The practical language classes, which go on all year, aim at bringing the students to a C1 level in all abilities according to the Common European Framework (‘Effective Operational Proficient’).

NB: The level does NOT constitute a 'certification', which is the responsibility of an officially recognized certifying authority. Therefore, we cannot attest to the level having been reached, but only to the mark obtained.

With a view towards further studies and/or the development of professional abilities, language classes will also aim at developing language awareness through contrastive analysis, focusing on translation and other skills, and using various text-types.

These classes focus on all four skills areas: reading and text analysis (text structure, reading for specific meanings, including speaker opinion or attitude, in single and multiple texts, in a comparative perspective); essay writing (content, style and organization in a range of text-types; focus on developing argumentation skills); listening (for specific information, gist and attitude); and speaking (pronunciation practice; oral argumentation on a range of topics).

The translation classes will focus on translation practice from Italian into English with the goal of strengthening communicative language skills and being able to deal with a given translation assignment.

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures

· Almanna, Ali & House, Juliane (2024) Chapter 9, “Functional Linguistics”, in Linguistics for Translators, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 175-204.

(The text can be found at the Department library)

· Bowker, Lynne (2024) “Teaching machine translation literacy to non-translation students: A case study at a Canadian university”. In M. Winters, S. Deane-Cox, & U. Böser (Eds.), Translation, interpreting and technological change: Innovations in research, practice and training, Bloomsbury, pp. 180-201.

(The text can be found at the Department library)

· Kim, Mira (2009) “Meaning-oriented assessment of translations SFL and its application to formative assessment”. In C. V. Angelelli & H. E. Jacobson (eds) Testing and Assessment in Translation and Interpreting Studies: A call for dialogue between research and practice, John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 123-155.

(Open-access e-book)

· Manfredi, Marina (2008) Translating Text and Context: Translation Studies and Systemic Functional Linguistics, Vol. I, Translation Theory, Bologna, AlmaDL (selected sections)

(Open-access e-book)

 

Suggested reading:

· Kenny, Dorothy (2022) “Human and machine translation”, in Machine translation for everyone: Empowering users in the age of artificial intelligence, Berlin: Language Science Press, pp. 23–49.

(Open-access e-book)

 

Additional readings may be indicated at the beginning of the course through the university repository, Virtuale.

 

Language Classes

All language and translation groups will be announced at the beginning of the classes via notices on the teachers’ web pages and on the Virtuale platform. As for the relevant teaching materials, students will refer to the Virtuale pages of their language teachers, according to the group they have been assigned to.

Teaching methods

a) Lectures

3rd year students are divided into 2 groups, by alphabetical order: A-L and M-Z. Lectures for these groups take place on the average of 4 hours a week.

b) Language lessons

 3^rd year students will be divided into groups according to their 2^nd year results.

Each student will follow a group doing 'Integrated skills' (2 classes of 2 hours each week) and one group of 'Translation' (1 class a week), for a total of 6 hours per week for the entire academic year.

The language teachers on the third year are Dott. Ashley Phillis and Dott.ssa Eleonora Maldina. Dott. Phillis is responsible for Integrated Skills, Groups A, B and C; Dott.ssa Maldina is responsible for Integrated Skills, Group D, and for ‘Translation from Italian into English’ (4 groups).

The groups will be defined by the start of the first semester and posted on the teachers’ individual web pages and Virtuale pages.

Assessment methods

The exam is divided into two parts, one on English linguistics and one on English language, thus reflecting the structure of the course and its title.

The linguistics part of the exam is written, and the language part of the exam is both written and oral; the oral part is called the SAT (Speaking Ability Test).

As for the language/practical component, during the academic year 2026–2027, midterm tests will be offered. Detailed information about the structure and dates of the midterm tests will be provided at the beginning of the course.

 

Exam structure

The full exam consists of a total of 3 components:

(1) A linguistics written test, based on the contents of the lectures held by the teacher of the course. The final written test will assess students’ metalinguistic knowledge and understanding of the key theoretical concepts covered in the course, with particular attention to the representation of experience, the construal of interpersonal relations, and the organisation of meaning as text. It will also assess their ability to apply the descriptive-analytical linguistic model introduced in the course to the analysis and comparison of human- and machine-mediated texts, supporting their interpretations with linguistic evidence. The exam is divided into a theoretical and an applied part and consists of tasks of various kinds (multiple choice, True/False, matching, cloze, select missing words, questions requiring a short answer and open-ended questions.

(2) A language written test based on the contents of the language classes. This tests the students’ analytical capacity to understand and use the English language at the C1 level of the Common European Framework for Languages. The exam is divided into specific sections on: (a) reading comprehension, analysis, and writing and (b) translation. The final mark is the mean of the scores obtained in the individual sections. The text-types used for this component of the exam are general interest and semi-specialized (e.g. newspaper articles, reviews, academic/ scientific articles, interviews, literary texts, social media posts and comments, forum discussions, blog entries). Writing skills are evaluated with reference to the student’s capacity to produce persuasive, argumentative, and expository texts.

(3) A SAT, which tests the students’ listening and speaking skills, and their capacity to express, at a C1 level, a critical viewpoint on abstract and/or controversial topics or current affairs. This part of the exam lasts 15-20 minutes.

 

Marking criteria and levels

Each part of the exam is evaluated separately. The final mark is calculated as follows: the score obtained in the Language written is multiplied by 2, and added to the score obtained in the SAT. This figure is divided by 3, added to the score obtained in the Linguistics written, and finally, divided by 2. Students cannot refuse a passing mark (a score of at least 18/30) in any of the single (partial) exams taken towards the final average mark in the course. Only the final average mark itself can be refused, obliging the student in that case to take each single exam again. Marks obtained in written exams, but also in the SAT, remain valid for 4 exam sessions only, including the sessions they were taken in.

The written language exam must be passed before the SAT: i.e., only after passing the written language exam may students take the SAT. However, they needn’t wait to pass the linguistics exam to do so.

All written exams take place once in each exam session; SATs are held twice, once before and once after the written tests and in proximity of the final mark registration dates. It is not obligatory to pass the three (single) components of the exam in the same exam session, but it is not possible to register the final mark for the overall course until all three exam components have been passed.

Students who show a solid (Effective Operational Proficient – C1) command of the English language and an equally appropriate awareness of its metalinguistic aspects receive an excellent mark. Students with a lesser degree of linguistic competence and metalinguistic awareness receive a lower mark. Students who apply their linguistic competence mechanically, without showing an adequate capacity to perform a thorough analysis of a complex text and/ or demonstrate a less than C1 competence with reference to a wide range of text-types and their contexts may pass the exam but will only do so with a low mark. Finally, students who display seriously insufficient metalinguistic awareness, analytical capacity and linguistic competence at the required level, will not pass the exam.

Regarding translation, an awareness of the functions of the source text and its register and level of formality must be demonstrated. Special attention must be paid to the grammatical structure, lexical choices (also in terms of collocation), and punctuation. Translations that sound ‘natural’ will be rewarded. L1 Italian students may only use one monolingual English dictionary. Students of other native languages may use either a monolingual Italian dictionary or a bilingual dictionary of Italian plus the L1 of the student.

NB: Erasmus students may choose to do TWO writing questions instead of the translation plus one writing task.

 

Additional information

The exam is normally the same for all students, attenders and non-attenders.

Although AI-generated texts constitute one of the objects of analysis throughout the course, the final examination assesses students' independent ability to carry out meaning-oriented text analysis by applying the linguistic framework introduced in the course. The use of generative AI tools during the examination is therefore not permitted.

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.

Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the teacher and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

 

- Students who have chosen English as their third language are not obliged to take the SAT, but may do so if they wish.

 

Please note that students who have passed all partial exams must register for one of the official grade recording sessions offered by Prof. Manfredi (M-Z group) and the professor responsible for A-L group (Lecturer to be appointed) in order to have their final mark recorded.

 

Students of the old ordinamento “quadriennale”, for whom the exam is called “Lingua e letteratura inglese”, take only the language written and SAT (no linguistics component). The final mark for these students is the mean of the score obtained in their language exam and the one obtained in their literature exam.

NB

- Incoming and outgoing Erasmus students, as well as students from other Departments/ Degree Courses, are asked to get in touch with Prof. Manfredi as soon as possible.

- The “prova di conoscenza della lingua straniera” is a 3-credit, pass/fail exam, required for those enrolled in the V.O. 509, is to be done ONLY by those who are certain that they will be doing their final undergraduate paper on some English or Anglo-American topic. It consists in a very brief discussion on current affairs. Those enrolled in the ‘ordinamento’ 270 do NOT do this exam.

- Graduating students should not wait to do their language exams until the session in which they are to graduate. There is a risk that they will not pass and therefore not graduate. Those who are hoping to graduate in the first available session of their third year are clearly an exception.

 

Exam results are always published on 'Virtuale'.

All students MUST enrol in the lists in Almaesami for EACH partial exam they intend to do and for their final mark registration. Students doing an exam must present their university badge or a valid ID with photo.

 

 

Teaching tools

Lectures will make use of PPT.

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/marina.manfredi

Office hours

See the website of Marina Manfredi