C9072 - LINGUA SPAGNOLA I (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the linguistic and discursive aspects of the Spanish language, from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives, with particular attention to the methodological issues involved in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, as well as its applications to pragmatics, text analysis, discourse analysis, and translation. Through practical exercises, they progress towards level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and develop communicative competences in all skills, both active and passive, enabling them to effectively interpret the sociolinguistic and cultural codes of their interlocutors during communication.

Course contents

The course is taught in Spanish and is divided into two thematic sections, devoted respectively to Spanish pragmatics and discourse analysis.

1. Spanish Pragmatics

The first section introduces Spanish pragmatics, its fundamental concepts, and its development as a field of linguistic study. The main theoretical approaches within the discipline will be presented, with particular emphasis on:

• Grice’s cooperative principle and conversational implicatures;
• Searle’s theory of speech acts;
• Austin’s theory of speech acts;
• a brief overview of Sperber and Wilson’s relevance theory;
• the pragmatic study of linguistic politeness.

These theoretical approaches will be related to key phenomena in communication, including the inferential construction of meaning, the relationship between explicit and implicit content, the appropriateness of utterances to their communicative context, speakers’ intentions, and the effects produced by speech acts.

2. Discourse Analysis

The second section introduces discourse analysis, its principal areas of study, and its units of analysis. Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between discourse analysis and the pragmatic concepts addressed in the first section.

The following topics will be examined in greater depth:

• the concepts of textual coherence and cohesion;
• discourse as a linguistic and social practice;
• the characteristics of oral discourse;
• conversation as a prototypical form of oral interaction and some fundamental tools for its analysis;
• the contribution of prosodic, vocal, kinesic, and proxemic elements to the construction of meaning;
• the representation of participants in discourse and the construction of discursive identities;
• modalisation;
• discourse markers and their functions in the organisation and interpretation of discourse;
• registers and rhetorical devices.

PLEASE NOTE: the course includes the following component, taught by Dr Ana Reyes Carvalho Martí:

95389 – Spanish Language Excercises (LM)

The Spanish Language Exercises are primarily practical in nature, and the related examinations are based on the skills developed and activities carried out during classes. Although attendance is not compulsory, participation is strongly recommended to ensure adequate preparation for the examination.

For information on the course content, required readings, and assessment methods for the Spanish Language Exercises, please check the following page:

95389 – Spanish Language Classes (LM) [https://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/dottorati-master-specializzazioni-e-altra-formazione/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2024/465755]

Readings/Bibliography

Testi/Bibliografia

Escandell Vidal, María Victoria (2013), Introducción a la pragmática, Barcelona, Ariel.

Calsamiglia Blancafort, Helena e Amparo Tusón Valls (2012), Las cosas del decir. Manual de análisis del discurso, 3ª ed., Barcelona, Ariel. (A selection of chapters will be given during the course)

Bravo, Diana (1999), «¿Imagen positiva vs. imagen negativa? Pragmática sociocultural y componentes de face», Oralia. Análisis del discurso oral, 2, pp. 155–184.

Otaola Olano, Concepción (1988), «La modalidad (con especial referencia a la lengua española)», Revista de Filología Española, 68(1-2), pp. 97–118.

Martín Zorraquino, María Antonia (1998), «Los marcadores del discurso desde el punto de vista gramatical», en María Antonia Martín Zorraquino y Estrella Montolío Durán (coords.), Los marcadores del discurso. Teoría y análisis, Madrid, Arco/Libros, pp. 19–53.

Teaching methods

Teaching activities combine lectures with practical exercises.

The theoretical concepts will be complemented by individual and group exercises, carried out both in class and at home. These activities are intended to consolidate the knowledge acquired and develop students’ ability to apply the tools of pragmatic, conversational, discourse, and textual analysis autonomously and critically.

The analytical exercises will focus on a variety of Spanish-language texts from different genres and communicative contexts. Materials analysed will include conversations and other forms of oral discourse, literary texts, and multimodal texts such as memes, satirical cartoons, short videos, and advertisements.

The analysis will consider how verbal, visual, prosodic, and non-verbal components interact in the construction of meaning.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of an oral test conducted in Spanish. It is designed to assess students’ knowledge of the main concepts and theoretical approaches in pragmatics and discourse analysis, their ability to establish relevant connections between the different topics covered in the course and to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of texts and communicative phenomena, as well as their capacity for independent analysis and critical reflection. The examination also assesses students’ ability to present and develop arguments in Spanish clearly, coherently, and appropriately, using the relevant specialist terminology accurately.

Students may also choose to take an optional mid-course written test covering part of the syllabus. The test consists of multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, and practical analysis exercises. Students who pass the mid-course test will be assessed in the subsequent oral examination only on the remaining part of the syllabus. Students who do not take or do not pass the mid-course test will be assessed in the oral examination on the entire syllabus.

Please note: to sit for the examination for this course, students must first have passed the written examination for:

95389 – Spanish Language Classes (LM)
Dr Ana Reyes Carvalho Martí

Teaching tools

The slides used during classes and any additional teaching materials will be made available on the Virtuale platform. Authentic texts and documents, websites, online dictionaries and reference resources, linguistic corpora, conversation transcripts, and audio and audiovisual materials will also be used to support teaching and learning activities. Interactive exercises and self-assessment activities may also be provided through the Virtuale platform.

STUDENTS WITH SLDS OR TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DISABILITIES: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and your professor immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.

Any requests for accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the lecturer and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Office hours

See the website of Marcello Giugliano