Advanced English Linguistics
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
This course is devoted to studying discourse. It goes beyond the study of traditional aspects of linguistics (phonetics, morphology, lexis, syntax) to embrace large collections of texts (corpora). It is addressed to graduate students, who have some grounding in the basic concepts of linguistics. The course will introduce students to the methodology of corpus linguistics with which different types of discourse in the domain of the arts will be analysed in order to explore the implicit and intricate social and cultural dimensions.
Expected learning outcomes
The knowledge and understanding of corpus linguistics and discourse analysis. Applying knowledge and understanding to access a variety of machine readable corpora (Wordbanks Online, British National Corpus, SketchEngine) and to carry out a linguistic analysis on them via the wordlist, keyword list, collocations, and concordances techniques; and to be able to critique different types of discourse from a linguistic point of view in order to reveal hidden and taken-for-granted social and cultural trends.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The name of the course is "Corpus Linguistics, Controversies in Applied Lingusitics, and Sociolinguistics".
6/9 CFU (credits) - Units A+B (compulsory) / C (optional)
The course is made up of two didactic units (A and C) for the 6-credit exam and three units (A, B and C) for the 9-credit exam. All three units will be held in the second semester.
Unit A (20 hours, 3 credits): An Introduction to Corpus Linguistics (prof. Laura Pinnavaia)
Unit B: Controversies in Applied Linguistics (prof. Sabine Doff),
Unit C: An introduction to sociolinguistics (prof. Laura Pinnavaia)
The 6-credit exam consists of two compulsory didactic units (A and C); students interested in the 9-credit exam are required to add unit B.
The syllabus is valid until February 2025
6/9 CFU (credits) - Units A+B (compulsory) / C (optional)
The course is made up of two didactic units (A and C) for the 6-credit exam and three units (A, B and C) for the 9-credit exam. All three units will be held in the second semester.
Unit A (20 hours, 3 credits): An Introduction to Corpus Linguistics (prof. Laura Pinnavaia)
Unit B: Controversies in Applied Linguistics (prof. Sabine Doff),
Unit C: An introduction to sociolinguistics (prof. Laura Pinnavaia)
The 6-credit exam consists of two compulsory didactic units (A and C); students interested in the 9-credit exam are required to add unit B.
The syllabus is valid until February 2025
Prerequisites for admission
This course is addressed to all students enroled in the degree course Lingue e Letterature Europee ed Extraeuropee.
The course is held entirely in English.
The course is held entirely in English.
Teaching methods
The course is is mainly delivered as lectures, which also include practical activities on computers.
Teaching Resources
Reading list:
Baker, Paul (2006), Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis, Bloomsbury, London.
Seidlhofer, Barbara (ed.) (2003), "Controversies in applied linguistics" Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pinnavaia, Laura (2023), "Introducing Sociolinguistics: A Glance at the English-speaking Social and Cultural Worlds"
Materials and slides used in class are available on the English Language 2 Ariel/Teams platforms.
Notice for non-attending students
The syllabus is the same for attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are kindly requested to e-mail prof. Laura Pinnavaia ([email protected]).
Baker, Paul (2006), Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis, Bloomsbury, London.
Seidlhofer, Barbara (ed.) (2003), "Controversies in applied linguistics" Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pinnavaia, Laura (2023), "Introducing Sociolinguistics: A Glance at the English-speaking Social and Cultural Worlds"
Materials and slides used in class are available on the English Language 2 Ariel/Teams platforms.
Notice for non-attending students
The syllabus is the same for attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are kindly requested to e-mail prof. Laura Pinnavaia ([email protected]).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral discussion. The final mark, between 18/30 (minimum) and 30/30 (maximum), is derived from the averaged total of the two (6-credit exam) or three (9-credit exam) didactic units.
ORAL EXAM
Discussion on key concepts and notions: the focus is on those specific topics introduced in the two/three didactic units. Both the theoretical approach (metalinguistic, metatextual, metadiscursive), and the practical exemplification (case studies) will be assessed. Exposition and argumentation skills, and practical evidence will positively characterise oral interaction.
Attending students will also be able to take an end-of term written test on all three units, whose mark will be valid until January-Februry 2025.
Oral exam assessment criteria: 1. appropriate presentation and discussion of topics, notions, and concepts; 2. discourse organisation; 3. lexical richness and accuracy; 4. lexical propriety; 5. lexical variety; 6. detailed text analysis (especially related to spelling variants, phonological system, and morpho-syntax of the varieties examined and discussed); 7. speaking skills.
ORAL EXAM
Discussion on key concepts and notions: the focus is on those specific topics introduced in the two/three didactic units. Both the theoretical approach (metalinguistic, metatextual, metadiscursive), and the practical exemplification (case studies) will be assessed. Exposition and argumentation skills, and practical evidence will positively characterise oral interaction.
Attending students will also be able to take an end-of term written test on all three units, whose mark will be valid until January-Februry 2025.
Oral exam assessment criteria: 1. appropriate presentation and discussion of topics, notions, and concepts; 2. discourse organisation; 3. lexical richness and accuracy; 4. lexical propriety; 5. lexical variety; 6. detailed text analysis (especially related to spelling variants, phonological system, and morpho-syntax of the varieties examined and discussed); 7. speaking skills.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Pinnavaia Laura
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Pinnavaia Laura
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)