62516 - Specialist Languages

Learning outcomes

The student knows the theoretical and practical issues of specialized languages. S/he is able to understand, analyze and (re) produce oral discourses used in a variety of specialized domains.

Course contents

This course aims to: 
i) develop skills and strategies for understanding and analysing oral discourse, including complex discourse, with low, medium and high degrees of specialisation; 
ii) identify more rapidly the pragmatic and discourse strategies adopted in certain socio-professional communities of speakers, with a view to dialogue or conference interpreting; 
iii) acquire the theoretical coordinates needed to describe specialised discourse, also in preparation for degree dissertations and research activities in this area; 
iv) improve general and domain-specific knowledge in some specialised fields that are fundamental for interpreters, such as economics/finance and medicine.

We will mainly use authentic oral materials in Italian and/or interpreted texts, with strong attention to current affairs and to the contexts in which interpreters and mediators operate at different levels. We will seek to highlight the likely difficulties involved in interpreting specialised discourse and to reflect on the metalinguistic strategies that need to be activated. The course includes collaboration with external experts, specialists in interpreting or translation in the fields covered.

The module on Specialised Languages is part of the integrated course Institutional and Specialised Communication.

1. Coordinates of specialised communication

In the introductory part of the course (first three lessons), after presenting the course and the assessment methods, we will analyse the foundations of specialised communication and carry out a practical activity aimed at applying the concepts to authentic oral texts with a medium degree of specialisation.

• What a specialised language is
• Specialised languages and sociolinguistic variables
• The relationship between specialised languages and general language; lexical formation
• Dominant lexical features, such as collateral technical terms; syntactic features, such as nominalisations; and pragmatic features, including conventions and registers, constraints, and the hierarchical organisation of information

2. Economic and financial language

Complex, and sometimes counterintuitive, concepts from the economic and financial domain permeate political and journalistic communication. In the second part of the course, corresponding to five lessons, we will work with authentic speeches to examine frequent economic and financial terms and concepts that are essential for a full understanding of current affairs and for their translation.

• Cross-cutting economic notions and concepts frequently used in political, institutional and media communication
• Figurative expressiveness in economic and financial language

3. Medical language

We will then move on to the analysis of written and oral medical communication in different communicative contexts and in the three main stages of the clinical pathway, over five lessons, also from an interlinguistic perspective.

• Medical terminology: different degrees of specialisation, linguistic resources, databases
• Reference documents: individual emergency department records, specialist medical reports, discharge letters
• Pharmacology, active ingredients, patient information leaflets

Depending on the interests of the class and the pace of the lessons during the semester, seminar-style sessions may be included on the language of art, the language of sport and/or educational interpreting.

Readings/Bibliography

For a smooth progression of the topics, it is recommended to read the essays in the order they are listed in the bibliography.
The material (slides and others) used in class is an integral part of the curriculum and is available on Virtuale platform.

Bibliographic references may be changed or integrated until the beginning of the course.

References

•Gualdo, R. & Telve, S. (2021). Linguaggi specialistici dell’italiano, Roma: Carocci editore [Cap. 1 -Il campo di ricerca, solo pp. 17-46 e pp. 107-126 + Il linguaggio della medicina, solo cap. 4, fino a pag. 320]

•Gualdo, R. (2023), L’italiano dell’economia, Carocci Editore (solo pp. 23-67)

Two essays at your choice (many references are available on Virtuale).

Suggested readings (not compulsory)
For information purpose only, we suggest some integrative readings if you need to deepen some of these topics.

Cavagnoli, S. (2014), La comunicazione specialistica, Roma: Carocci Editore.
Cortelazzo, M.A. (2000), “Le lingue speciali: le dimensioni verticale e orizzontale”, in Id., Italiano d’oggi, Padova: Esedra, pp. 25-36.
De Mauro, T. (1965), Il linguaggio della critica d'arte, Firenze: Valecchi Editore.
Garzone, G., Viezzi, M. (2001), Comunicazione specialistica e interpretazione di conferenza, Trieste, Edizioni Università di Trieste.
Maldussi, D. (2024), Propédeutique de la traduction financière
Discontinuité et contre-intuitivité, Roma: Aracne.
Sobrero, Alberto A. (1993), “Lingue speciali”, in Id. (a cura di), Introduzione all’italiano contemporaneo, Roma – Bari: Laterza, vol. 2º (La variazione e gli usi), pp. 237-277.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of in-depth theoretical lessons and practical work on texts. The active participation of students is therefore required.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists of an oral interview with two main components: discussion of a practical activity followed by theoretical questions.

Procedure

Practical activity: analysis of a specialised discourse relating to one of the domains covered in class, such as economics/finance, medicine or art. The activity includes a summary of the content and an analysis of the discourse’s characteristics and prototypical features. This component is worth 15 points out of 30.

The characteristics of the practical activity will be explained in greater detail during the lessons, and examples will be provided. The discourse must be authentic, approximately three minutes long, and either entirely in Italian or accompanied by its interpreted version.

Theoretical questions: discussion of the articles listed in the bibliography and of the materials presented in class. This component is worth 15 points out of 30.

The exam is intended to assess

i) the theoretical knowledge acquired on the principles governing specialised communication;
ii) the ability to analyse the characteristics of written or oral specialised discourse;
iii) the ability to identify the difficulties involved in understanding and interpreting specialised discourse and to demonstrate appropriate strategies for managing them.

Assessment criteria

The following criteria will be taken into account in the assessment:

• ability to understand specialised discourse

• ability to analyse specialised discourse

• clarity and accuracy of oral presentation

• ability to reflect critically and argue effectively

• theoretical knowledge of specialised languages.

The mark obtained in Specialised Languages will be averaged with the mark obtained in Institutional Communication within the integrated course Institutional and Specialised Communication.

Mark allocation

Practical activity: 15 points out of 30

14-15 points: fully satisfactory
12-13 points: good, with some aspects that could be improved
9-11 points: sufficient, although with some gaps
<9 points: insufficient

Theoretical questions: 15 points out of 30

14-15 points: excellent command of the contents; excellent oral presentation, reflection and reasoning skills.
12-13 points: good command of the contents; good oral presentation, reflection and reasoning skills.
10-11 points: fair command of the contents; fair oral presentation, reflection and reasoning skills.
<9 points: inadequate or seriously inadequate command of the contents, oral presentation, reflection and reasoning skills.

Students with specific learning disorders, or temporary or permanent disabilities, including serious health conditions that interfere with the normal course of study, are asked to contact the relevant University office promptly, preferably before the beginning of the course: Service for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it . Please note: the responsible office will propose any necessary adjustments for the students concerned. These adjustments must in any case be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days before the exam date. The lecturer will assess their appropriateness also in relation to the learning outcomes of the course.

As regards assessment, limited, declared and non-substantial use of AI is permitted for support activities in preparation for the exam and the practical activity. During the oral interview, students will be asked to critically explain how AI was used and what usefulness, if any, they observed.

Teaching tools

PPTs, Internet, Videos, e-learning platform (Virtuale and Teams).

Office hours

See the website of Cristiana Cervini