General Linguistics
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to give a basic knowledge in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, starting from the knowledge and skills that each student has acquired in relation to his/her mother tongue, and to other languages he/she has previously learned in the lower- and upper-middle schools. The course also intends to provide the knowledge of linguistic variation both in diachrony and in relation to social stratification. In addition, since the reflection on the functioning of the language requires a specialized vocabulary as a description of various phenomena, the program aims to provide specific expertise in this direction.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will be able to identify, describe and explain specific structural features and phenomena specifically exhibited by individual languages, following either a diachronic and synchronic approach, and he/she will have to link them to the general categories of linguistic analysis and description, to classify them with regard to the different methods and hermeneutic approaches of linguistic disciplines, and to describe them with an adequate and precise metalanguage.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "General Linguistics" and consists of the following two units, which will be approached in sequence:
Teaching unit A: Institutions of theoretical linguistics: elements of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, typology, semantics and pragmatics.
Teaching unit B: Variation in language: The historical-comparative method; dialectology; introduction to sociolinguistics..
The course is adressed to students of the Degree course in Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication, it takes place in the first semester and consists of two indivisible teaching units. The course involves the compulsory acquisition of 6 credits, so students will comply with the complete program. Students who intend to acquire only 3 credits will agree with the teacher which units they have to prepare.
Unit A will deal with the organs of phonation, phones production and phonetic representations (IPA and other phonetic transcription systems); the definition and organization of phonemes; the definition of linguistic significant units (morphemes) and the formation of words; the definition of phrases and the principles and processes that govern the structure of the sentence; the relationship between syntax and semantic-pragmatic aspects; the typological classification of languages based on the formation of words and the order of the major constituents of the sentence.
Unit B will deal with the beginnings of historical-comparative linguistics and the clues that led to establishing relations between related languages and the "discovery" of language families; morover, some elements of dialectology and of sociolinguistics will be taught.
The course program is valid until February 2021.
Teaching unit A: Institutions of theoretical linguistics: elements of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, typology, semantics and pragmatics.
Teaching unit B: Variation in language: The historical-comparative method; dialectology; introduction to sociolinguistics..
The course is adressed to students of the Degree course in Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication, it takes place in the first semester and consists of two indivisible teaching units. The course involves the compulsory acquisition of 6 credits, so students will comply with the complete program. Students who intend to acquire only 3 credits will agree with the teacher which units they have to prepare.
Unit A will deal with the organs of phonation, phones production and phonetic representations (IPA and other phonetic transcription systems); the definition and organization of phonemes; the definition of linguistic significant units (morphemes) and the formation of words; the definition of phrases and the principles and processes that govern the structure of the sentence; the relationship between syntax and semantic-pragmatic aspects; the typological classification of languages based on the formation of words and the order of the major constituents of the sentence.
Unit B will deal with the beginnings of historical-comparative linguistics and the clues that led to establishing relations between related languages and the "discovery" of language families; morover, some elements of dialectology and of sociolinguistics will be taught.
The course program is valid until February 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in Italian. The exam materials and bibliography presuppose grammatical skills that each student possesses in relation to the functioning of their own language, of other languages they have learned, and in the basic linguistic analysis skills acquired in lower study courses.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on the online platform for teaching https://ariel.unimi.it/, to which reference is made for teaching materials provided by the teacher.
Below are the manuals and other readings for the various units.
Unit A:
1) G. Graffi-S. Scalise, "Le lingue e il linguaggio", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2nd ed. (2003) o 3rd ed. (2013), chapters 1-10.
Or:
A. Akmajian et al. "Linguistics: an Introduction to Language and Communication", 6th edition, MIT, Cambridge MA (chapters 1-8).
2) teaching materials, downloadable from the teaching portal "Ariel".
Unit B:
2) Booklet of the course.
2) G.Berruto "Prima lezione di sociolinguistica", Bari/Roma, Laterza;
3) V.Dell'Aquila-G.Iannàccaro "La pianificazione linguistica", Roma, Carocci (pp. 11-131).
3) teaching materials, downloadable from the teaching portal "Ariel".
Warnings for non-attending students:
Unit A:
non-attending students shall add this book to the program:
P. Maturi, "I suoni delle lingue, i suoni dell'italiano. Nuova introduzione alla fonetica" (3a ed.), Bologna, il Mulino, 2014.
Unit B:
non-attending students shall add the following book and notes to the program:
1) C. Cecchetto, Introduzione alla Sintassi. La Teoria dei Principi e dei Parametri, Milano, LED, 2002.
2) "Appunti di fonologia sincronica", "Appunti di sintassi", "Tipologia e sintassi", "Appunti di fonologia fonologia diacronica", ed. by Paola Benincà, which are available on the website.
Below are the manuals and other readings for the various units.
Unit A:
1) G. Graffi-S. Scalise, "Le lingue e il linguaggio", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2nd ed. (2003) o 3rd ed. (2013), chapters 1-10.
Or:
A. Akmajian et al. "Linguistics: an Introduction to Language and Communication", 6th edition, MIT, Cambridge MA (chapters 1-8).
2) teaching materials, downloadable from the teaching portal "Ariel".
Unit B:
2) Booklet of the course.
2) G.Berruto "Prima lezione di sociolinguistica", Bari/Roma, Laterza;
3) V.Dell'Aquila-G.Iannàccaro "La pianificazione linguistica", Roma, Carocci (pp. 11-131).
3) teaching materials, downloadable from the teaching portal "Ariel".
Warnings for non-attending students:
Unit A:
non-attending students shall add this book to the program:
P. Maturi, "I suoni delle lingue, i suoni dell'italiano. Nuova introduzione alla fonetica" (3a ed.), Bologna, il Mulino, 2014.
Unit B:
non-attending students shall add the following book and notes to the program:
1) C. Cecchetto, Introduzione alla Sintassi. La Teoria dei Principi e dei Parametri, Milano, LED, 2002.
2) "Appunti di fonologia sincronica", "Appunti di sintassi", "Tipologia e sintassi", "Appunti di fonologia fonologia diacronica", ed. by Paola Benincà, which are available on the website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher and interactions between the teacher and the student. The interview has a variable duration depending on the units, and takes place in Italian. The interview aims to verify knowledge of the topics covered during the course, the ability to identify and analyze the relevant phenomena and the precision in the use of specific terminology. The final mark is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to reject it (in this case it will be recorded as "ritirato"). International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly contact the teacher. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Teaching Unit 1
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Vai Massimo
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Vai Massimo
Teaching Unit 2
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Vai Massimo
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Vai MassimoProfessor(s)
Reception:
By appointment via email, either in person or on Teams.
Department of Philosophy, attic level