30923 - General Linguistics 1 (GR. B)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at introducing the basics properties of human language, its levels of analysis (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) and their interrelations. Both a synchronic and diachronic perspective will be adopted. The course will give an overview of the main theoretical models in linguistics and their epistemological foundations. Moreover, it will provide the students with some basic notions regarding the various subdisciplines of linguistics, such as typology (and the search for linguistic universals), sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, lexicology, computational linguistics. At the end of the course, the students will be able to analyze any text from the phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic point of view.

Course contents

The course aims at providing the students with specific tools to carry out a scientifically valid analysis of any language. Since it is an introductory course to general linguistics, it does not require any previous knowledge. First of all, the course introduces the semiotic bases of language, together with the notions of “human language (faculty)” (which has special properties that takes it apart from other artificial languages) and of “specific languages” (which can vary across space and society, and which can be classified from a genealogical viewpoint). Secondly, the key moments of the history of linguistics will be illustrated, with special reference to modern linguistics (XIX and XX century). The core of the course will focus of the different levels of linguistics analysis and their methodologies: phonetics and phonology (including the description and use of the International Phonetic Alphabet); morphology and the lexicon; syntax; semantics and pragmatics. The course will also describe how and to which extent the languages of the world may vary and may be classified from a typological point of view. Finally, some mechanisms of language change will be illustrated.

Readings/Bibliography

Handbooks

• Graffi, Giorgio & Sergio Scalise (2013). Le lingue e il linguaggio. Introduzione alla linguistica. Third edition. Bologna: Il Mulino.

• Grandi, Nicola (2003). Fondamenti di tipologia linguistica. Roma: Carocci.

• Robins, Robert H. (2005). La linguistica moderna. Bologna: Il Mulino.

Other texts

• Berruto, Gaetano & Massimo Cerruti (2011). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: Utet. [Chapters 1 (Il linguaggio verbale), 5 (Semantica), 8 (Cenni di storia della disciplina)]

• Simone, Raffaele (2013). Nuovi fondamenti di linguistica. Milano: McGraw-Hill. [Chapters 9 (Categorie grammaticali) and 13 (Lessico)]



Other materials

• It is highly recommended (mandatory for those who are not attending the lessons) to read the slides that will be published every week among the teaching materials of this course (on the "Collezione AMS Campus" webpage).

• Any further indication on reading materials will be given during the classes.

• Finally, it might be useful to consult, when necessary, the Dizionario di linguistica e di filologia, metrica, retorica (Turin, Einaudi, 2004, new edition), edited by Gian Luigi Beccaria, or the Breve dizionario di linguistica (Roma, Carocci, 2001) by Federica Casade.

Teaching methods

The course is mainly based on traditional lectures. Data from different languages will be presented in both a theoretical and an empirical perspective.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims at assessing the theoretical knowledge acquired by the students during the course, as well as their ability to apply this knowledge to concrete cases of linguistic analysis.
The assessment is carried out by means of a written examination, which lasts 2 hours and consists of 30 questions.
The questions are of different nature: there are both open and multiple choice questions, which may deal with both theoretical and practical aspects of the program. The latter are exercises where the students should analyze data (from different languages): these are aimed at assessing their ability to apply the acquired theoretical notions to concrete cases.
The questions refer to all the topics mentioned in the program (see description and textbooks sections), both those addressed during the classes and those that are studied autonomously by the students. Topics include: basic notions and concepts of general linguistics, history of linguistics, phonetics and phonology, morphology and the lexicon, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, linguistic typology, language change.
The final grade is given by counting the number of correct answers: each correct answer corresponds to 1 point, incorrect answers to 0 points, partially correct answers are also taken into account. Criteria for assessing the correctness of the answers include: qualitative precision, formal accuracy, clarity of writing.
High grades are therefore given to those students who demonstrate to have a global and harmonious knowledge of the subject and its specific language/terminology, to communicate ideas in a proper and clear way and to have acquired adequate analysis skills. A partial knowledge of the subject and its specific language/terminology, an overall fair but not perfect way of communicating, and less refined analysis skills imply average grades. A limited knowledge of the subject and its specific language/terminology, poor communication and analysis skills imply low grades. Those students who prove to have an inadequate and/or insufficient knowledge of the subject (in both its theoretical and practical parts) and its specific language/terminology will fail the exam.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides and other IT and web resourses will be used in order to illustrate the contents and to provide examples and schemas.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Masini