69318 - General Linguistics (C)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will be familiar with the history of linguistics as a discipline and with the main theoretical models in modern linguistics. The course will provide the students with the basic notions and procedures for linguistic analysis, as well as with the appropriate terminology for the study and description of the main levels of analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology and the lexicon, syntax, semantics, pragmatics) from a basically synchronic perspective. At the end of the course, the students will know how to classify the languages of the world genealogically into language families and groups; they will also acquire basic notions in the field of linguistic typology, including the search for language universals. Finally, the students will be acquainted with the different subdisciplines of linguistics and the most recent developments in the field.

Course contents

The two parts of the course aim at giving a basic and introductory knowledge of General Linguistics, focusing in particular on main properties of human language, phonetics/ phonology (sounds of language), morphology (words and their structure), essentials of syntax, aspects of linguistic typology. We will analyze different languages, as well as the concepts of language variation and linguistic diversity. Students will be acquainted with topics concerning the ways in which language interacts with society and people use language in different social situations. Particular attention will be devoted to the sociolinguistic situation of Italy and the range of varieties of contemporary Italian.
At the end of the course the students should be able to understand and apply the main notions and categories of Linguistics.
Since this is an introductory course, it is not required to have prior knowledge on the subject.

Readings/Bibliography

Handbooks

• G. Berruto, M. Cerruti (2011 or following editions). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET Università.
• G. Berruto (2004 or following editions), Prima lezione di sociolinguistica. Roma-Bari: Laterza. [Pages 72-172]
• G.F Arcodia, C. Mauri (2016). La diversità linguistica. Roma: Carocci.

Students who are not attending classes should also read the following book (recommended for all students, but optional for those attending classes):

• Masini, Francesca & Nicola Grandi (2017). Tutto ciò che hai sempre voluto sapere sul linguaggio e sulle lingue. Bologna: Caissa Italia.

Further resources

It is mandatory to read the slides that will be published every week among the teaching materials of this course, Lon the AMS Campus collection.

Teaching methods

The course is mainly based on lectures . The topics will be explained by referring to real data and examples (both in Italian and other languages). The theoretical discussion will be systematically accompanied by empirical data analysis.

Assessment methods

The exam is designed to assess the level achieved by the student in the understanding of the theoretical tools provided during the course and their application to real language data.

The assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired will be done through a written test and an optional oral exam. The written test will consist of 30 questions, to be carried out within 2 hours. The questions consist of definitions, closed questions, open questions, exercises based on the analysis of data from different languages. The final grade is given by counting the number of correct answers. The oral exam consists of the correction of the written exam plus an additional question.

The topics will cover the course topics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, the general notions concerning languages, their relevant variations, the theoretical reflections on linguistic diversity, linguistic typology and universals.

The evaluation will be based on:

• the number of correct responses, making it possible to partially correct answers
• formal and exhibition adequacy
• expressive clarity and the ability to organize the argumentation

An excellent rating will be given to those who show that they have a thorough knowledge of the program, expressive and expository mastery, precision in data analysis and in the use of specialist terminology, critical thinking skills.

Intermediate evaluations will be given to those who show that they have studied, but will restrict to a partial knowledge of the issues addressed, will use the terminology loosely, and will show themselves insecure in the data analysis.

Sufficiency will be given in the presence of a mnemonic studio, partially incomplete, that reveals a poor command of the terminology and basic concepts of the language, along with an imprecise and inaccurate analysis of data.

The assessment will be insufficient in the presence of significant deficiencies, inability to argue a theoretical discussion and / or properly analyze the data.

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Fiorentini

See the website of Alessandra Barotto