69318 - General Linguistics (A)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at introducing the basics properties of human language, its levels of analysis (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) and their interrelations mainly on a synchronic basis. 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) and pragmatics. 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 is intended to provide students with the essentials for the scientific study and the synchronic analysis of languages. Previous knowlegde on the subject is not requested.

Lectures will deal with the following issues: language/human verbal language, signs and codes, the human language properties, the linguistic sign and the Saussurian dychotomies. The description and use of the IPA; the phonological system of Italian compared to the one of the main European languages. Basic notions on the lexicon, syntax and semantics, the typological and genealogical classification of languages. Basics of pragmatics.

Readings/Bibliography

Berruto, Gaetano e Massimo Cerruti (2011). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET Università.

Scalise, Sergio e  Antonietta Bisetto (2008). La struttura delle parole. Bologna: Il Mulino. Except the following chapters: 3, 8, 10, 11.

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

 

Teaching methods

Lectures and drills.

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 1 hour and consists of 30 questions.

The questions are mainly of the multiple choice type and 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 thecorrectness of the  answers include: qualitative precision, 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

Lectures and slide projections.

Office hours

See the website of Antonietta Bisetto