31312 - Chinese Linguistics and Language 3

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student is competent in all communicative skills in Chinese at the intermediate level of the parameters set by the relevant authorities. The student has a thorough knowledge of the linguistics of Chinese.

Course contents

The course consists of three modules:

31312 LINGUA E LINGUISTICA CINESE 3 - 9 cfu

95474 ESERCITAZIONE DI LINGUA E LINGUISTICA CINESE 3 B

B3552 ESERCITAZIONE DI LINGUA E LINGUISTICA CINESE 3 C

The content of the Chinese Language and Linguistics portion is as follows:

During the course, the student will deal with different types of language, with emphasis on news related to political and social aspects.

The course will involve the reading, analysis and translation of Chinese texts of different types and of intermediate difficulty. Contextually, the structures present in the texts under consideration will be analyzed and presented in light of the theoretical framework of contemporary Chinese linguistics.


Such explanations will be aimed at providing clear indications on typically complex syntactic forms belonging to written language and lexical items belonging to higher styles.


Language exercises


Language exercises are an integral part of the Chinese Language and Linguistics course; therefore, student attendance at class is essential. Language exercises consist of three weekly meetings throughout the academic year and are taught by native speakers.


The exercises are aimed at setting a solid foundation in all language skills related to spoken and written language.

Readings/Bibliography

Text for exercises:

Masini. F. et al. (2010). Il cinese per gli italiani. Corso avanzato, vol. III.. 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 teaching materials discussed at lessons and uploaded in Virtuale are part of the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures based on texts proposed by the teacher analyzed in class; illustration of structures employed; discussion over the contents of the articles.

Assessment methods

The examination is based on the content of lectures given by the teacher of Chinese linguistics and the content of exercises with language experts.


Mode of testing learning

The exam consists of two parts:


1) Exam of grammatical proficiency and written production (30 marks):


A) Part with the language expert (20 points, passing threshold 12 points): Written test designed to test knowledge of topics covered by native speakers. Consists of two parts, the first focusing on the content of the first semester (Partial 1) and the second focusing on the content of the second semester (Partial 2). The two partials can also be taken in separate sessions. Access to Partial 1 is available from the January-February call.


Partial test grades are valid for one calendar year (4 sessions). To reject a written test grade, simply resubmit to the next session; in such cases, the last grade earned counts.


B) Part of linguistics (10 points, passing threshold 6 points): Oral test aimed at verifying the grammatical and translation skills acquired. It consists of grammatical commentary, translation and comment on the content of texts selected by the students.

The prerequisite for admission to the oral proficiency test is to have scored 18 points (summing linguistics and written test, A +B).

2) Oral Production Proficiency Test (30 points): A reading and speaking test with language experts, based on the units studies in class in the textbook, advanced course. Rejection of the oral grade is possible only at the examination.


Final grade


The final grade consists of the mathematical average between the score obtained in the grammar and written production proficiency tests (1, A+B) and the score obtained in the oral production proficiency test (2).

Teaching tools

Wenlin Software for Learning Chinese, llatest version (for Windows e Mac), available on www.wenlin.com ;
Pleco Software (per iPhone/iPad e Android), free downloadable at www.pleco.com (the purchase of at least a bundle is recommended).

Monolingual dictionaries available at gongjushu.cnki.net through Almastart (the list of free dictionaries will be posted on Virtuale).

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Pellin