28860 - History of the Italian Language (Lm)

Learning outcomes

The student enrolled in this course is expected to have just reached a moderate skill in Linguistics and Italian grammar. On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to learn and apply in practice the knowledge acquired, to use analyzing tools and to apply the methods of learning discussed in the course, in order to examine in depth and revise in complete autonomy his\her own knowledge. The student will be able to use the main instruments for the evaluation of a text, literary or not. He/she will be able to analyze any text and to relate it to the cultural and literary context in which it was produced, to its way of dissemination and reception, in a multidisciplinary perspective.

Course contents

The course is mainly aimed at those who have not already done historical-linguistic studies and aims to provide an overview of the events of Italian linguistic history and the main problems of diachronic reconstruction: internal and external linguistic history, literary language and common language, relationship between the center and periphery, question of the linguistic norm, factors of Italianization.

The course is divided into a general part, dedicated to some moments of linguistic history of Italian from its origins to the contemporary age through the analysis of exemplary texts, and in a monographic part, dedicated to the history of the teaching of Italian through the centuries.

Readings/Bibliography

• Texts and material available on the e-learning platform of the course.
  
• Claudio Marazzini, La lingua italiana. Storia, testi, strumenti, Bologna, il Mulino, 2015 (2nd edition).
• Nicola De Blasi, L’italiano a scuola, in Luca Serianni and Pietro Trifone (eds.), Storia della lingua italiana, vol. I: I luoghi della codificazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1993, pp. 383-423.
• Roberta Cella, Grammatica per la scuola, in Giuseppe Antonelli, Matteo Motolese and Lorenzo Tomasin (eds.), Storia dell’italiano scritto, IV: Grammatiche, Roma, Carocci, 2018, pp. 97-140.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars and workshops; round tables with experts.

Assessment methods

For all students, the exam consists of a written exam. The written exam aims at assessing the knowledge of the concepts, methods and tools of the history of the Italian language and assess the ability to use the conceptual tools for the study of texts.

The exam consists of 29 multiple choice items (of 0.5 points each) and 5 open-ended questions (2 of 5 points and 3 of 2,5 points each) about all the readings. For incorrect or not given answers the score is 0 points. The final grade is given by the sum of the points, where 31 and 32 correspond to cum laude.

In the evaluation of the open-ended questions the following evaluation grid will be used:

• full score (80-100% of the score): detailed knowledge of the contents of the bibliography, combined with a precise and widely effective language;
• average high score (60-80% of the score): excellent knowledge of the bibliography, expressed through a precise and overall effective language;
• average score (40-60% of the score): good knowledge of the bibliography and use of a language sufficiently precise and congruous, albeit with inaccuracies and excessive simplifications;
• low-medium score (within 40% of the score): sometimes uncertain knowledge of the contents of the bibliography and language with inaccuracies and inconsistencies;
• no score assigned: serious gaps in the preparation and use of imprecise and ineffective language.

Students whose mother tongue is not Italian must have a good knowledge of the Italian language.

Teaching tools

Students can use the reference material provided online. In particular, an up-to-date calendar of the classes and an e-learning platform reserved to attending students.

Links to further information

http://www.matteoviale.it/didattica/calendario_storia_ling_2024.html

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Viale