31206 - Chinese Language and Linguistics 2

Learning outcomes

Intermediate Chinese: This course will refine and synthesize students’ previous knowledge of Chinese grammar and vocabulary by focusing on communicative functions. By the end of the course, students should be able to comprehend and communicate in broader and specific situational contexts while using complex grammar.

Course contents

Grammar program (Chinese language and linguistics)

The course aims at developing the students' linguistic competence of Mandarin Chinese at an intermediate/advanced level. In particular, it aims at developing the students' linguistic competence, strengthening their knowledge of the main structures of Mandarin Chinese in theory and in practice. Contents include:

• grammatical particles
• aspect
• complex verbal structures
• modification
• topicalisation
• verb complements
• potential forms
• structure with ba 把 and bei 被 and other special structure

Furthermore, the course intends to introduce the students to the translation practice from Chinese into Italian. By reading, analysing and translating sentences or short paragraphs of intermediate level, the students will be able to improve their skills in delivering the meaning of the Chinese grammatical structures in the most effective Italian form.

Classes held by native teachers

The classes held by native Chinese language experts are a fundamental component of the course, therefore, the attendance is strongly recommended. The classes are based on the book Il cinese per gli italiani, vol II  and they take place throughout the whole academic year.

Readings/Bibliography

• Ross, Claudia and Ma Jing-heng Sheng, 2014, Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar, Second Edition. London and New York: Routledge.

• Antonella Ceccagno, 2015, Il cinese. The book can be purchased on Amazon. (https://www.amazon.it/cinese-antonella-ceccagno/dp/1977567940)

• Antonella Ceccagno, 2015, Tradurre dal cinese. The book can be purchased on Amazon (https://www.amazon.it/Tradurre-dal-cinese-Antonella-Ceccagno/dp/197759591X)

• Masini et al., 2010, Il cinese per gli italiani. Corso base, vol. II. Milano: Hoepli.

• Dizionario italiano-cinese e cinese-italiano: a scelta uno dei seguenti dizionari: GARZANTI, 2012, a cura di Rosa Lombardi oppure HOEPLI, 2009, a cura di Zhang Shihua.

  Also recommended:

• Magda Abbiati, 1998, Grammatica di cinese moderno, Venezia: Cafoscarina.

Further recommendations may be provided during the course

Teaching methods

Classroom teaching and teacher-led discussion

Assessment methods

The exam is based on the content of the classes held by the teacher of the course and native Chinese language experts. It consists of two components: 1) a mid-term intermediate written test (at the end of the first semester, January-February); 2) the final exam at the end of the course (from May-June).

The final exam consists of two parts: a written test for which the time allotted is 4 hours and a subsequent oral examination. Those who have passed the mid-term written test will only be required to complete the second part of the written test.

As far as the grammar test is concerned, it consists of several questions or exercises to be solved. The content is the grammar explained during the course.

The written exam is composed of two parts, one concerning the grammar course and one concerning the course held by the native Chinese teacher. The maximum score is 30/30. In order to be able to do the oral exam, the student has to pass both parts. Moreover, the final score of the written exam must be equal to or higher than 18/30.

Only after passing the written language exam can students take the oral. Students can reject their mark ONLY ONCE, and only that of the FINAL MARK. The final mark is the mean of the scores obtained in written and oral exams. They cannot reject only the written part, nor only the oral part. Once the mark rejected, students must take the whole exam again, including both the written and the oral part.

The marks obtained in the written exams, mid-term and final, are valid for one  year. This means that within one year after the written examination, students must take the oral examination, otherwise they will have to take all the parts again.

Teaching tools

video, ppt

Office hours

See the website of Martina Codeluppi