Law and Multilingualism
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to explore the complex interactions between law and language, with particular regard to plurilingualism and multilingualism. More specifically, the course will focus on the role of multilingualism within single countries, supranational organisations like the European Union (EU) and multi-ethnic contexts in South America, analysing how multilingualism impacts on politics and democratic legitimation, and how multilingual policies are implemented in practice. Furthermore, the course will investigate the protection of human rights in relation to multilingualism, introducing students to the challenges of translating and interpreting multilingual law, and to the intersections between multilingualism, right to education and access to justice. This overview aims to provide students with a thorough and critical understanding of the legal and linguistic dynamics at work within the legal systems under scrutiny.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will understand the complexity of legal language and its specificities in comparison with everyday language. They will become aware of the role of culture in shaping legal language, and of the possibility for legal concepts to circulate across legal systems. Moreover, students will be introduced to the legal challenges of multilingualism, particularly within the European Union and Latin America, becoming familiar with the specific features of multilingual policies and their connection to the topic of active citizenship. They will gain a deep and practical understanding of what it means to protect the right to education and access to justice in the context of multilingualism. Lastly, they will acquire the necessary skills to independently explore specific subtopics related to the main subject of law and multilingualism.
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
1. The Relationship between Language and Law
1.1. The languages of law across legal cultures: manifestations of law through sources and formants in legal systems
1.2. Language as a right and multilingualism: protection within regional human rights courts
2. Multilingualism in the EU
2.1. European citizenship and multilingualism policies
2.2. Between principles and practices: multilingualism and the workings of EU institutions
3. Multilingual and Intercultural Dialogue in Latin America
1.1. The languages of law across legal cultures: manifestations of law through sources and formants in legal systems
1.2. Language as a right and multilingualism: protection within regional human rights courts
2. Multilingualism in the EU
2.1. European citizenship and multilingualism policies
2.2. Between principles and practices: multilingualism and the workings of EU institutions
3. Multilingual and Intercultural Dialogue in Latin America
Prerequisites for admission
General admission requirements for the Master's Degree Programme in Languages and Cultures for Communication and International Cooperation. An interest in law and legal comparison is also desirable.
Teaching methods
The course employs expository and collaborative teaching methodologies to support effective learning. It includes in-person lectures, delivered in Italian and supplemented with teaching materials (such as slides), as well as the possible involvement of invited professors and external experts for seminar sessions on specific topics. Active student participation is strongly encouraged, both through the analysis and resolution of issues related to the course topics (case studies) and through collaborative activities on the subjects discussed in class (group work).
Teaching Resources
The scientific reference materials for the course will be provided by the instructor. Non-attending students are required to contact the instructor at [email protected] to receive specific guidance.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination is oral and graded on a scale of thirty. Assessment will take into account the student's knowledge of the course content, command of language, and ability to develop comparative and/or critical evaluations of the topics covered. To foster familiarity with different assessment methods, an optional mid-term assessment is offered midway through the course. This may take the form of a written test or, alternatively, group work, at the discretion of the instructor. If the student completes the mid-term assessment, the final grade will be calculated as a weighted average of the two scores.
IUS/02 - COMPARATIVE PRIVATE LAW - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Posenato Naiara
Professor(s)
Reception:
For in-person attendance, please contact [email protected] .
Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Mediations - - Piazza Indro Montanelli, 1 Sesto San Giovanni Room 1048