Theoretical Linguistics
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is for those students who have already had a basic training in Linguistics and for those ones who have already had an exam in Linguistics. The course deals with the structural features that characterize the languages of the world, with regard either to the their universal tendencies, and the domains of their mutual divergences. It also will get to a deep knowledge of the history of linguistic thought and of the main hermeneutical paradigms over the years.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will be askes to describe exactly the topics proposed and to report them with critical awareness, in order to show his/her adequate possession of the methodological instruments and the founding notions of linguistic sciences. The student will be askes to be able to describe and to frame specific topics proposed into the more general horizon of Western linguistic reflection, of its history and of its different theoretical paradigms. The student should to be able to identify and to explain clearly and with his/her own words the specific phenomena exhibited by the languages of the world, and he/she should be able to interpret the empirical dimension with and thanks to the theoretical and metalinguistic coordinates offered by the course.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course deals with structural features that characterize the languages of the world, such is the case of evaluatives (diminutives, augmentatives, etc.), illustrated and proposed with regard either to the universal and typological tendencies that they represent, and to the domains of their diverging evidences in the morphological, semantic and pragmatic uses shown by natural languages. The course also will get to a deep knowledge of the history of linguistic thought and of the main hermeneutical paradigms over the years.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is for those students who have already had a basic training in Linguistics and for those ones who have already had an exam in Linguistics and/or in Theoretical Linguistics.
Teaching methods
The course is taught by frontal lessons. Learning materials are also available online on the Ariel e-learning platform, in order to give the students tools and occasions for a deeper reflection and critical awareness.
Teaching Resources
.N. GRANDI, Morfologie in contatto: le costruzioni valutative nelle lingue del Mediterraneo, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2002
.da N. Grandi - L. Körtvélyessy (eds.), Edinburgh Handbook of evaluative morphology, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2015 pp. 3-20 (N. Grandi - L. Körtvélyessy, "Introduction: Why evaluative morphology?"), 21-31 (V. Prieto, "The semantics of evaluatives"), 32-42 (L. Merlini Barbaresi, "Evaluative morphology and pragmatics"), 61-73 (L. Körtvélyessy, "Evaluative morphology and language universals", 74-90 (N. Grandi, "The place of evaluation within morphology")
.G. Basile - F. Casadei - L. Lorenzetti - G. Schirru - A.M. Thornton, Linguistica generale, Roma, Carocci, 2010.
Bibliography for non-attending students:
Non-attending students are requested to the following addition of the bibliography given for attending students:
.W.U. Dressler - L. Merlini Barbaresi, "Italian diminutives as non-prototypical word formation, in L. Tonelli - W.U. Dressler (eds.), Natural Morphology: Perspectives for the nineties, Padova, Unipress, 1994, pp. 21-29.
This program is available till February 2021.
.da N. Grandi - L. Körtvélyessy (eds.), Edinburgh Handbook of evaluative morphology, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2015 pp. 3-20 (N. Grandi - L. Körtvélyessy, "Introduction: Why evaluative morphology?"), 21-31 (V. Prieto, "The semantics of evaluatives"), 32-42 (L. Merlini Barbaresi, "Evaluative morphology and pragmatics"), 61-73 (L. Körtvélyessy, "Evaluative morphology and language universals", 74-90 (N. Grandi, "The place of evaluation within morphology")
.G. Basile - F. Casadei - L. Lorenzetti - G. Schirru - A.M. Thornton, Linguistica generale, Roma, Carocci, 2010.
Bibliography for non-attending students:
Non-attending students are requested to the following addition of the bibliography given for attending students:
.W.U. Dressler - L. Merlini Barbaresi, "Italian diminutives as non-prototypical word formation, in L. Tonelli - W.U. Dressler (eds.), Natural Morphology: Perspectives for the nineties, Padova, Unipress, 1994, pp. 21-29.
This program is available till February 2021.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam involves an oral, individual interview in order to verify either learning outcomes concerning the specific topics proposed by the course, or the ability to report them with critical and autonomous awareness, by using a precise and adequate metalanguage.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday, 9.00-12.00 (First Semester). Tuesday, 16.30-18.30, Wednesday, 9.00-10.00 (II Semester)
Microsoft Teams Platform. Please, contact the teacher via email.