33866 - Foundations of Linguistics (1) (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire basic notions of theoretical linguistics with special reference to  synchronic models of linguistic analysis. They  will be exposed to issues concerning acoustic, articulatory and perceptual properties of speech sounds from a linguistic perspective (phonetics), and the system of rules, representations and principles governing the structures of sounds (the "grammar of sounds" or phonololgy). They will learn about the structure and the rule- based processes of word construction in different languages (morphology) and will understand how words combine each other to build up grammatical sentences (syntax)
Students will also be exposed to the problems connected to the nature of meaning, the relations meaning/linguistic form (both at a lexical and phrasal level) and the interaction between linguistic form and context in human communication (semantics)

Course contents

The key concepts of general linguistics will be introduced (the difference between language and human languages, the 'Saussurian' oppositions such as synchrony vs. diachrony, syntagmatic vs. paradigmatic, etc.). We will then focus on different levels of analysis; particular attention will be devoted to morpho-syntax and semantics).

Readings/Bibliography

Graffi, G. / Scalise S. (2002), Le lingue e il linguaggio, Bologna, Il Mulino
F. de Saussure, Corso di lingusitica generale (only first parte: Principi generali and second part: La linguistica sincronica).

Other material can be downloaded from the web site www.grandionline.net/nicola/didattica

Teaching methods

Lessons will be given as lectures. During each class, lessons' notes, handouts and other materials will be made available to the students.

Assessment methods

The final test will consist in an oral exam on the lessons' content and on the course's recommended readings (see "Testi").

Teaching tools

Graphs and  data will be included in Power Point presentations. Slides, lessons' notes, handouts and other materials will be made available to the students.

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Grandi