Russian 1 (MA)
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course consists of lectures (corso monografico) and practical language classes (esercitazioni). Lectures aim to present the main features of the functional styles of Russian language and to analyze, according to a pragmalinguistic approach, Russian texts of different styles. In a part of the course the main types of subordinate sentences encountered in the analyzed texts will be deepen. Practical language classes will develop the skills to understand oral texts of different styles, as well as to produce oral and written texts in different styles at B2 level.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: introduction to the concept of stylistics and to the linguistic styles in Russian language; lexical, structural, morphological, syntactic and pragmatic peculiarities of scientific/critical, literary, publicistic, colloquial, official and business texts; development of the vocabulary and structures necessary to analyze texts of different styles; deepening of the main types of subordinate sentences of the Russian language. Applying knowledge and understanding: at the end of lectures students will be able to identify the texts of the different considered styles and to analyze them from lexical, morphological, syntactic, structural and pragmatic point of view. They will be also able to use correctly the typical structures of the different styles and the main types of analyzed subordinates. The practical language classes will develop in students the skills to listen, understand and produce in Russian language oral and written texts of the different styles analyzed during the lecturers. The developed linguistic skills will correspond to the fourth level (B2) of the official standard established by the Council of Europe for the knowledge of foreign languages.
Lesson period: year
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
year
Course syllabus
The course will be dedicated to the study of the word-formation processes in the Russian language through the analysis of texts belonging to children's literature and blogs. The analysis of stylistically very different texts will show how the word-formation processes are productive in all textual genres and significantly enrich the lexicon of the Russian language.
The course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
Part A. Introduction to the concepts of style and genre. Introduction to the characteristics of children's literature texts. The structural and morphosyntactic peculiarities of various texts relating to this genre will be taken into consideration (traditional tales, novels and tales from the Soviet and contemporary times). Particular attention will be devoted to the study of the lexicon that characterizes literary production for children. The word-formation system, which will be the central theme of part B, will be presented.
Part B. In part B the main trends of the word-formation system in the Russian language will be presented: prefixation, suffixation, truncation, union, etc. Starting from texts taken from literary works for children (examples of film adaptations will also be considered) and songs, we will focus on the formation of diminutives and terms of endearment.
Part C. In part C the word-formation processes will be analyzed within the language of the Internet, in particular we will analyze the way in which these processes are found in the posts published in blogs on different topics.
The course program is valid until September 2024
The course provides 9 ECTS. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
Part A. Introduction to the concepts of style and genre. Introduction to the characteristics of children's literature texts. The structural and morphosyntactic peculiarities of various texts relating to this genre will be taken into consideration (traditional tales, novels and tales from the Soviet and contemporary times). Particular attention will be devoted to the study of the lexicon that characterizes literary production for children. The word-formation system, which will be the central theme of part B, will be presented.
Part B. In part B the main trends of the word-formation system in the Russian language will be presented: prefixation, suffixation, truncation, union, etc. Starting from texts taken from literary works for children (examples of film adaptations will also be considered) and songs, we will focus on the formation of diminutives and terms of endearment.
Part C. In part C the word-formation processes will be analyzed within the language of the Internet, in particular we will analyze the way in which these processes are found in the posts published in blogs on different topics.
The course program is valid until September 2024
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held entirely in Russian, the examination materials and bibliography presuppose a start level of B1. In addition, the student must have the requirements for access to the Master Programme LM C73 relating to the Russian language, as indicated in the Program Description.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and analysis of texts; viewing and analysis of videos and films. The course is integrated with language practice classes, for which please see the specific syllabus.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on "Ariel", the online platform for teaching, (https://ariel.unimi.it/). Students are invited to consult it for information and materials given by the teacher.
Bibliography for lectures:
1. Texts for analysis uploaded on Ariel platform.
2. Required readings taken from texts listed below which will be uploaded on Ariel platform.
3. 40 pages for self-study, which the student will choose by himself and will agree with the lecturer. Texts must refer both to children's literature and blogs.
4. Further readings (except for the excerpts which will be available on Ariel platform, these readings are intended as support and in-depth analysis).
· E. A. Abrosimova, N. A. Kuz'mina, Aktivnye processy v russkom jazyke i kommunikacii novejšego vremeni: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka, Moskva 2013, 146-159.
· T. A. Gridina, N. I. Konovalova, Slovoobrazovanie. Teorija, algorithmy analiza, trening: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka, Moskva 2009.
· E. A. Zemskaja, Sovremennyj russkij jazyk. Slovoobrazovanie: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka; Moskva 2013.
· V. Propp, Morfologija skazki, Akademia; Leningrad, 1928. (Available at Пропп, В. Я. Морфология сказки. Л., Academia. 1928. EBook 2014 (imwerden.de).
Bibliography for Language practice class:
Audio and video texts and materials that will be distributed during classes (they also will be published on Ariel platform).
Notice for non-attending students
The program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are invited to contact the lecturer as soon as possible.
Bibliography for lectures:
1. Texts for analysis uploaded on Ariel platform.
2. Required readings taken from texts listed below which will be uploaded on Ariel platform.
3. 40 pages for self-study, which the student will choose by himself and will agree with the lecturer. Texts must refer both to children's literature and blogs.
4. Further readings (except for the excerpts which will be available on Ariel platform, these readings are intended as support and in-depth analysis).
· E. A. Abrosimova, N. A. Kuz'mina, Aktivnye processy v russkom jazyke i kommunikacii novejšego vremeni: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka, Moskva 2013, 146-159.
· T. A. Gridina, N. I. Konovalova, Slovoobrazovanie. Teorija, algorithmy analiza, trening: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka, Moskva 2009.
· E. A. Zemskaja, Sovremennyj russkij jazyk. Slovoobrazovanie: učebnoe posobie, Flinta Nauka; Moskva 2013.
· V. Propp, Morfologija skazki, Akademia; Leningrad, 1928. (Available at Пропп, В. Я. Морфология сказки. Л., Academia. 1928. EBook 2014 (imwerden.de).
Bibliography for Language practice class:
Audio and video texts and materials that will be distributed during classes (they also will be published on Ariel platform).
Notice for non-attending students
The program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are invited to contact the lecturer as soon as possible.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written and oral exams: the exam consists of a written test and of an oral test. The final grade will be the average of the grades obtained in written and in oral exams, expressed in thirtieths. The student has the right to refuse the vote and to repeat the exam.
The written exam can be taken starting from May 2023. The oral exam from June 2023.
Attending students (active participation in at least 75% of the practice sessions and the theory lessons) can have access to the partial tests (replacing only the general written test) which take place at the end of each semester. In this case, the final mark of the written examination is given by the average of the two partial tests. To take the second partial test students are expected to have passed the first partial test and to have attended at least 75% of lectures and language practice classes during the second semester. In the event of failing one of the two partial tests, students must take the entire general written examination during the official rounds (May, September, January).
The first partial examination will include the viewing of a Russian-language video related to Children's literature. After watching the video twice, students will have to write a summary in Russian. A minimum length is not required, but the summary should contain all the information presented in the video. The use of bilingual and monolingual dictionaries is allowed.
The second partial exam will include the reading of two texts, respectively a text for children and a post taken from a blog. Students will write an essay in Russian in which they will analyze the texts from a lexical, morphological, syntactic, structural, and pragmatic point of view. Students should demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical contents and of the analysis methodologies addressed during the monographic class. The length of the essay should be at least 300 words. The use of bilingual and monolingual dictionaries is allowed.
The general written exam (for those who do not take partial exams or who have not passed one of the two) will consist in carrying out the two tests described above at once.
The oral exam will consist of:
A detailed 15-minute presentation dealing with the pragmalinguistic analysis conducted on the 40 pages chosen for self-study and agreed upon by the lecturer.
An interview relating to the theoretical topics covered in the course and to the texts addressed in the class.
An interview on a topic of conversation assigned at the time of the exam.
Language in which the student is required to take the exam: Russian.
Students' performance will be assessed in terms of appropriate presentation and discussion of topics, notions, and concepts; discourse organization; detailed text analysis; lexical and syntactic richness and accuracy.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the lecturer as soon as possible. Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the lecturer and the University Disability Office.
The written exam can be taken starting from May 2023. The oral exam from June 2023.
Attending students (active participation in at least 75% of the practice sessions and the theory lessons) can have access to the partial tests (replacing only the general written test) which take place at the end of each semester. In this case, the final mark of the written examination is given by the average of the two partial tests. To take the second partial test students are expected to have passed the first partial test and to have attended at least 75% of lectures and language practice classes during the second semester. In the event of failing one of the two partial tests, students must take the entire general written examination during the official rounds (May, September, January).
The first partial examination will include the viewing of a Russian-language video related to Children's literature. After watching the video twice, students will have to write a summary in Russian. A minimum length is not required, but the summary should contain all the information presented in the video. The use of bilingual and monolingual dictionaries is allowed.
The second partial exam will include the reading of two texts, respectively a text for children and a post taken from a blog. Students will write an essay in Russian in which they will analyze the texts from a lexical, morphological, syntactic, structural, and pragmatic point of view. Students should demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical contents and of the analysis methodologies addressed during the monographic class. The length of the essay should be at least 300 words. The use of bilingual and monolingual dictionaries is allowed.
The general written exam (for those who do not take partial exams or who have not passed one of the two) will consist in carrying out the two tests described above at once.
The oral exam will consist of:
A detailed 15-minute presentation dealing with the pragmalinguistic analysis conducted on the 40 pages chosen for self-study and agreed upon by the lecturer.
An interview relating to the theoretical topics covered in the course and to the texts addressed in the class.
An interview on a topic of conversation assigned at the time of the exam.
Language in which the student is required to take the exam: Russian.
Students' performance will be assessed in terms of appropriate presentation and discussion of topics, notions, and concepts; discourse organization; detailed text analysis; lexical and syntactic richness and accuracy.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the lecturer as soon as possible. Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the lecturer and the University Disability Office.
Professor(s)