13049 - General Linguistics (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will be familiar 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. Furthermore, they will acquire basic notions of sociolinguistics.

Course contents

The course provides an introduction to the main theoretical and methodological frameworks of General Linguistics, conceived as the scientific study of human language and of historical–natural languages. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.

The course is organized as follows:

• Theoretical foundations of Linguistics: origins of human language, features of historical–natural languages, semiotics of language.

• Levels of linguistic analysis: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and the lexicon, pragmatics.

• Languages of the world: genealogical and typological classifications; linguistic change and language variation.

• Hints of dialectology, sociolinguistics, and contact linguistics.
  

Readings/Bibliography

The main textbook for the course is:

• Berruto, Gaetano e Cerruti, Massimo. (2017 o ed. successive). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET.

In addition, students will read one scientific article of their choice from the following list:

• Busso, L., Combei, R. & Tordini, O. (2019) "La rappresentazione lessicale della violenza di genere. 'Donne come vittime' nei media italiani". In Parola. Una nozione unica per una ricerca multidisciplinare, a cura di Benedetta Aldinucci et al. Siena: Edizioni Università per Stranieri di Siena, pp. 271-269.
• Ardolino, F. & Calamai, S. (2022). "Isolamento linguistico e strategie comunicative a Ravensbrück: le testimonianze dall’archivio sonoro di Anna Maria Bruzzone". L'Analisi Linguistica e Letteraria, 30(2): 59-82.
• Raffi, F. (2022). "Linguistic variation in Italian neorealist cinema: A multimodal analysis of subtitling". Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1): 2028977.
  

Additional materials will be provided during the course.

Non-attending students are required to complement the above readings with one of the following books:

• Masini, Francesca e Grandi, Nicola (2017), Tutto ciò che hai sempre voluto sapere sul linguaggio e sulle lingue. Bologna: Caissa Italia.
• Nodari, Rosalba. (2025). Linguicismo e potere. Discriminare attraverso la lingua. Torino: Eris Edizioni.

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical exercises.

Assessment methods

Oral exam. Assessment will take into account students’ knowledge of the topics covered in the course and in the reference materials, the clarity and precision of their expression, and their ability to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of language use and to establish connections across the various areas of the discipline.
Original insights and personal reflections that demonstrate a critical understanding of the subject will be especially appreciated.

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Ardolino