85097 - Romance Linguistics (1) (LM)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Italian Studies, European Literary Cultures, Linguistics (cod. 9220)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce to the study of Romance languages in a comparative perspective, with particular attention for their differentiation and classification, starting from Latin model. At the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate the main features of Romance languages considered during lessons and to analyse specifical cases of phonological and morpho-syntactical evolution.

Course contents

The course consists of a single 30 hours module, divided in two parts, corresponding to 6 credits.

Lessons will start on November 8 2021.

Class schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 5-7 PM, via Zamboni 32 aula ex mansarda.

Part 1. Introduction to romance linguistics

The first part of the course will provide basic notions about Romance linguistics, with a description of main features of Neo-Latin languages; special attention will be dedicated to the Italian area and to specifical elements which characterize Italian among other Romance languages. Romance languages will be introduced and analysed in a comparative and diachronic perspective, following their development since Vulgar Latin until modern era. Main phenomena concerning phonetics, morphology and syntax will be examined.

Part 2. The influx of French and Occitan on Italian language

The second part of the course will focuse on the gallicismi, the influences exerted by French and Occitan language on Italian since the Middle Ages, especially in lexical field. Sample texts, provided by the teacher, will be read and commented.

The course does not require a previous knowledge of other Romance languages, except Italian. A basic knowledge of Latin can be useful. Frequency is strongly recommended.

Readings/Bibliography

For the first part of the course, it is required to study P. Gresti, Introduzione alla linguistica romanza, Bologna, Pàtron, 2016,with class notes.

For the second part, the teacher will provide, through the Virtuale platform, texts in pdf which will be analysed and commented during lessons.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will study Gresti's book and some texts uploaded on Virtuale for attending students, and they will add: S. Morgana, L’influsso francese, in Storia della lingua italiana, direzione A. Asor Rosa, Torino, Einaudi, 3. Le altre lingue, 1994, pp. 671-719, and R. Cella, I gallicismi nei testi dell'italiano antico, Firenze, Accademia della Crusca, 2003, Introduzione (pp. VII-XLII) and chapt. I-II (pp. 1-67).

Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher.

Teaching methods

- Lectures and seminars;

- Philological reading and linguistic commentary of texts;

- Students can apply for specific bibliographies and specially set up laboratories. There will be the possibility of individual tutoring.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

The student must demonstrate, with correctness and linguistic properties, that he has studied all parts of the program.

Evaluation parameters:

  • Insufficient vote: absence or strong lack of basic knowledge;
  • Sufficient vote (18): possession of basic notions;
  • Positive vote (from 19 to 25): possession of intermediate level of knowledge; sufficient capacity of connection between the different contents, essentially correct expression but with some imprecisions;
  • More than positive vote (from 26 to 28): possessing good and articulated knowledge; correct language; discrete critical ability;
  • Excellent vote (from 29 to 30L): possessing more than good knowledge; precision, maturity of expression and in-depth analysis; great autonomy in data re-elaboration and the ability to connect content. Honours will be given only to students who will demonstrate a complete and solid knowledge of the program, critical ability, autonomy and brilliant and organic exposure of acquired knowledge.

Teaching tools

Texts, documents, maps, images and video will be shared with students on the Virtuale platform and shown during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Di Sabatino