31068 - Chinese Language and Linguistics 1

Learning outcomes

The student is competent in all communicative skills in Chinese at the elementary level of the parameters set by the relevant authorities. He/she has a basic knowledge of Chinese linguistics.

Course contents

 

The course is aimed at students with entry-level proficiency (Level 0). By the end of the course, students will have a basic understanding of the Chinese language and linguistics. They will have acquired proficiency in all areas of communication in Chinese at an elementary level, reaching levels A1 and A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the corresponding levels of the Chinese HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi). Students will also be able to use dictionaries, specific apps and online resources to practise Chinese independently and to obtain lexical, phonological and syntactic information.
N.B. This course is not suitable for native-speaking students who are not already enrolled on one of the three-year degree programmes. Native-speaking students on exchange or Erasmus programmes, or those from other Unibo degree programmes, are invited to enrol on the Chinese Language course offered as part of the Master’s Degree in Teaching Italian as a Second Language, Multilingualism and Intercultural Studies (DIPI).
The course consists of three modules:
31068 - CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS 1
95469 - PRACTICAL COURSE IN CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS 1-A
95470 - PRACTICAL COURSE IN CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS 1-B
The Chinese Language and Linguistics 1 course aims to address, from a theoretical perspective, certain concepts of basic morphology and syntax, including: the main morphological rules; the main sentence structures; the order of sentence elements; the relationship between the determiner and the determined; the plural/singular distinction; the structural particle ‘de’ and the noun phrase; quantification; verb types; affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences; verbal aspect and the aspect particles ‘le’, ‘zhe’ and ‘guo’; and locators.
Furthermore, in module 31068, which will be held in the first semester, a historical overview of the evolution of the Chinese language (written and spoken) will be provided, and the main principles of the People’s Republic of China’s language policy will be outlined.
Language Seminars
The aim of the seminars is to establish a solid foundation in all language skills relating to spoken and written Chinese.
The language seminars (1-A and 1-B) form an integral part of the Chinese Language and Linguistics course; they are intended for all first-year students. Attendance at these sessions is essential. Language practice sessions 1-A consist of weekly sessions throughout the academic year and are taught by the native-speaking lecturer Prof. HU Guiping; they focus on phonetics, the application of grammatical rules and vocabulary. Language practice sessions 1-B consist of weekly sessions throughout the academic year and are taught by the native-speaking lecturer, Prof. WEN Yan; they focus on learning characters and practising writing. Students who are unable to attend regularly and have no prior knowledge of the language are encouraged to keep up to date via Virtuale and, if necessary, to contact the native-speaking lecturers to arrange a consultation.

Seminar 1A page
https://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/insegnamenti-competenze-trasversali-moocs/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2026/535808

Seminar 1B pagehttps://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/insegnamenti-competenze-trasversali-moocs/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2026/535809

 

Readings/Bibliography

Text for exercises:

Masini. F. et al. (2010). Il cinese per gli italiani. Corso base, vol. I. Hoepli.

Recommended dictionary:

Zhao Xiuying (2013). Il dizionario di Cinese. Dizionario Cinese-Italiano, Italiano-Cinese. Zanichelli.

Adopted texts for grammar:

Romagnoli, Chiara (2012). Grammatica cinese: Le parole vuote del cinese moderno. Hoepli

Paternicò, Luisa M., Varriano, Valeria e Tian Huiting (2021). Grammatica della lingua cinese. UTET.

Arcodia, Giorgio Francesco e Basciano, Bianca (2016). Linguistica cinese. Pàtron.

For each module:

The materials discussed during lectures and published on the course’s online platform form an integral part of the reading list. The relevant pages in the prescribed texts will be indicated on the online platform at the start of the course. The prescribed texts are required for passing the final examination, even for students who are unable to attend lectures. The professors are available to provide further clarification on the syllabus during their office hours.

Teaching methods

Illustration of linguistic structures through metalinguistic reflection; presentation and discussion of the main trends in the development of the Chinese language and language policies.

Assessment methods

The examination is based on the content of the lectures given by the teachers in Chinese language and linguistics and on the practical sessions led by native-speaking lecturers. The assessment is based on two sets of tests:

 

1) Test of grammatical competence and written production (30 marks). This consists of two parts:

(A) Written test (20 marks, pass mark 11)

(B) Oral test on Chinese linguistics (10 marks, pass mark 6)

(A) The written test is designed to assess the ability to write independently and to use the vocabulary from the textbook appropriately, with particular focus on topics relating to everyday life. The written test is itself divided into two parts:

a) Intermediate written test: the intermediate written test, held during the winter session, is specifically designed to assess knowledge of characters and basic grammar covered in the first 10 units of the textbook; it lasts 60 minutes. The content mirrors the exercises found in each unit of the textbook, such as:

1. Word formation (组词) E.g.: （）欢

1. Fill-in-the-blank (填空) with options. E.g.: 我（）中国人。a) 去, b) 在, c) 姓, d) 是

2. Filling in the blanks (填空) without options. E.g.: 安娜是 ( )人。她 ( ) 学习英国文学

3. Sentence construction (组句) E.g.: 学习同学中国喜欢和去她不

4. Forming questions (提问) E.g.: 安娜是上海人。 安娜是………？

b) Final written exam: the final written exam consists of a translation from Italian into Chinese and an essay, for which at least 150 characters must be used, incorporating a set of assigned words (e.g. 也, 可能, 喜欢, 家, 张, 们, 给) and drawing on the vocabulary from the textbook. The final written exam lasts 120 minutes.

Those who pass the intermediate written exam will be eligible to sit the final written exam. Those who have not passed or have not sat the intermediate exam are required to sit both the final written exam and the intermediate written exam; for the two written exams sat in the same sitting, the total duration is 180 minutes.

N.B. The use of a dictionary is not permitted in any of the written examinations.

The mark breakdown for the written components is as follows:

Intermediate Written Examination Total marks: 5; Pass mark: 3

Final Written Examination Total marks: 15; Pass mark: 8

Final written exam (total) Total marks: 20; Pass mark: 11

In addition, students who, during the academic year, submit character exercise sheets to Dr Wen via Virtuale – up to a maximum of 20 sheets – may be awarded additional marks towards their written examination mark, at a rate of 0.5 marks per sheet, up to a maximum of 1 additional mark.

(B) Theoretical exam in Chinese linguistics: this exam aims to assess knowledge of the basic concepts of Chinese linguistics and grammar. The exam comprises a series of questions on the syllabus covered, which may include: language policy / historical development / grammar; the presentation of the theoretical part of grammar will also require the analysis of examples, proposed by the student or the lecturer. The grade may only be rejected at the time of the exam.

The final mark for written exam A) and the mark for the theoretical exam B) are valid for three examination sessions. If the mark for the mid-term written exam has expired, students will be required to sit the full written exam. To reject the mark for the mid-term exam, students must notify Prof. Hu by email in good time. To reject the final mark for the written exam, students simply need to sit the exam again in the next session; in such cases, the most recent mark achieved will stand.

 

2) Oral Chinese exam (30 marks)

Only students who have passed the written exam may sit the oral exam. The exam aims to assess the ability to express oneself in Chinese on the topics covered in the textbook, with particular focus on everyday life. A mark may only be rejected at the time of the exam. The use of a dictionary is not permitted.

Final mark

(1) Written tests on linguistic and grammatical competence (A) + theory (B): 10/30 Prof. Pellin + 20/30 Prof. Hu

(2) ORAL: 30/30 Prof. Hu

FINAL MARK: the arithmetic mean of (1) and (2).

 

Teaching tools

Pleco Software (for iPhone/iPad and Android), available to download free of charge from www.pleco.com

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). 

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Pellin