00660 - General Linguistics (CL2)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will acquire an exhaustive knowledge of theoretical and methodological foundations of language sciences. The course will provide the students with the basic notions and procedures for linguistic analysis, as well as with the appropriate terminology. At the end of the course, the students will be able to analyze the structure and functions of different types of texts.

Course contents

The course introduces students to linguistics, providing them with the knowledge and the competencies needed for studying human language in general, as well as its specific realisations.

In the first part of the course language will be approached as a unique human capacity, focusing on properties such as arbitrariness of the linguistic sign and language productivity; attention will then move towards the main levels of linguistic structure and analysis: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. In the second part, the shared properties of individual languages and sources of inter- and intralinguistic variation will be discussed, from typological and sociolinguistic perspectives. Special attention will be given to the phenomena of bilingualism and multilingualism and the relevance of linguistic analysis for translation and interpreting.

Readings/Bibliography

All materials made available on the Moodle platform are to be considered as teaching/learning materials.

Students are required to read:

Berruto, Gaetano & Cerruti, Massimo (2011). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET. [Or the second/third edition of the same book, from 2017/2022]

Additional readings, targeted primarily at non-attending students, include:

Luraghi, Silvia & Thornton, Anna Maria (2004). Linguistica generale: esercitazioni e autoverfica. Roma: Carocci.

L!nVersamente (2022). Piccolo manuale di linguistica. Milano: Gribaudo.

Teaching methods

Frontal instruction with practical exercises in linguistic analysis.

Class attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.

The course requires a high proficiency level in Italian. Non-native speakers, be they LinTec or exchange students, should get in touch with the lecturers during the first two weeks of classes, either in person or by e-mail.

Assessment methods

General Linguistics (5 ECST) is a component of the integrated course in Linguistics I (10 ECTS), which also comprises Italian Language (5 ECTS).

The coursework will be assessed through a written exam.

The registration of the mark will be possible once the exams in both components have been passed. The final mark will take into account the two marks obtained for Italian Language and General Linguistics.

Assessment scale

30-30L: Broad and in-depth knowledge of course contents, excellent ability to apply theoretical concepts in practice, excellent presentation skills, as well as excellent ability to analyse and synthesise.

27-29: Detailed and complete knowledge of course contents, good ability to apply theoretical concepts in practice, good ability to analyse and synthesise, good presentation skills.

24-26: Appropriate knowledge of course contents, fair ability to apply theoretical concepts in practice, fair presentation skills.

21-23: Appropriate but not detailed knowledge of course contents, partial ability to apply theoretical concepts in practice, acceptable presentation skills.

18-20: Sufficient but somewhat vague knowledge of course contents, basic presentation skills, uncertainties in the application of theoretical concepts in practice.

<18 (Fail): Fragmentary and superficial knowledge of course contents, errors in applying theoretical concepts in practice, poor presentation skills.

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Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

Teaching tools

All teaching materials (slides, audio/video materials) will be available on Virtuale/Moodle.

Office hours

See the website of Maja Milicevic Petrovic