Romance Linguistics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to propose the advanced study of themes, methods and problems related to Romance linguistics. The history of the Romance languages will be studied from a comparative perspective (both in synchrony and in diachrony); particular attention will be paid to methodology concerning geolinguistics and/or sociolinguistics points of view.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student will have an in-depth knowledge of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history of Romance linguistics, as well as the theories and methodologies used in the field of Romance linguistics.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student must be able:
- to discern, understand, describe and classify the most important linguistic data through Medieval and/or Modern texts or documents, considering them from a diachronic and a diatopic point of view;
- to learn how to use the main consultation sources as well as orienting themselves effectively and confidently within the specific reference bibliography;
- to use the appropriate discipline-specific terminology.
At the end of the course the student will have an in-depth knowledge of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history of Romance linguistics, as well as the theories and methodologies used in the field of Romance linguistics.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student must be able:
- to discern, understand, describe and classify the most important linguistic data through Medieval and/or Modern texts or documents, considering them from a diachronic and a diatopic point of view;
- to learn how to use the main consultation sources as well as orienting themselves effectively and confidently within the specific reference bibliography;
- to use the appropriate discipline-specific terminology.
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 following topics will be dealt with:
A. From Latin to Romance Languages: historical-linguistic basis for cultural deepening (20 hours, 3 ECTS, obligatory).
B. Themes and problems of compared historical grammar of Romance languages and Romance linguistic geography (20 hours, 3 ECTS, obligatory).
C. Linguistic atlases of Romance languages, between geolinguistics and historical linguistics (20 hours, 3 ECTS).
A. From Latin to Romance Languages: historical-linguistic basis for cultural deepening (20 hours, 3 ECTS, obligatory).
B. Themes and problems of compared historical grammar of Romance languages and Romance linguistic geography (20 hours, 3 ECTS, obligatory).
C. Linguistic atlases of Romance languages, between geolinguistics and historical linguistics (20 hours, 3 ECTS).
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The course consists of 40 hours (for 6 ECTS) or 60 hours (for 9 ECTS) of lectures; linguistic texts' analysis activity will be carried out, as well as written exercise and oral presentation of case studies. The course uses e-learning teaching materials published on the dedicated MyAriel website.
Attendance in this course is strongly recommended; active participation from the students will be required during the lessons. For those attending part C of the course, there will be an educational outing to visit the Italian Linguistic Atlas archive held at the University of Turin.
Attendance in this course is strongly recommended; active participation from the students will be required during the lessons. For those attending part C of the course, there will be an educational outing to visit the Italian Linguistic Atlas archive held at the University of Turin.
Teaching Resources
All students are required to prepare:
For part A:
- Lecture notes;
- Alberto Varvaro, Il latino e la formazione delle lingue romanze, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2014;
- Henriette Walter, L'avventura delle lingue in Occidente, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1999 (reprinted 2006), in-depth study of pp. 5-10 (notes p. 429); 11-24 (notes pp. 429-30); 93-278 (notes pp. 435-448).
For part B:
- Lecture notes;
- Marcello Barbato, Le lingue romanze. Profilo storico-comparativo, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2017.
For part C:
- Lecture notes;
- Corrado Grassi, La geografia linguistica, in Lexikon der romanistischen Linguistik (LRL), edited by Günter Holtus, Michael Metzeltin, Christian Schmitt, vol. I, t. 1. Geschichte des Faches Romanistik. Methodologie (Das Sprachsystem), Max Niemeyer, Tübingen, 2nd ed. 2011, pp. 207-235;
- Lorenzo Massobrio, Federica Cugno, Gli atlanti linguistici della Romània. Corso di Geografia linguistica, Alessandria, Edizioni dell'Orso, 2010, in-depth study of pp. 1-36, 42-47 (ALF) and 50-73 (AIS and ALI), as well as five (eight, for non-attending students) topics chosen from those listed below:
1. Griera's ALC and Veny and Pons i Griera's ALDC, pp. 47-50 and 94-99;
2. Pușcariu, Pop and Petrovici's ALR I and II, pp. 73-80;
3. Navarro Tomás' ALPI, Alvar's ALEP and Cintra's ALEPG, pp. 80-85 and 103-104;
4. Gilliéron-Edmont's ALCo and Bottiglioni's ALEIC, pp. 107-115;
5. The atlases of the Ardennes, the Vosges and the survey in Angoumoins, pp. 118-127
6. The atlases of the Landes and the Terres Froides, pp. 116-118 and 127-129;
7. Dauzat's NALF, pp. 134-139;
8. Gardette's ALLy, pp. 139-143;
9. Séguy's ALG, pp. 143-155;
10. Nauton's ALMC, pp. 155-160;
11. Haust's ALW, pp. 168-171;
12. NALR and ALM by Uder, pp. 171-178;
13. ALA by Griera and ALEA by Alvar, pp. 178-186;
14. ALEANR, ALECant and ALECaLe by Alvar, pp. 188-193;
15. García Mouton's ALECMan, pp. 193-198;
16. the Extremadura atlas, ALEAc and ALL, pp. 198-203;
17. Terracini and Franceschi's ALSar, pp. 206-217;
18. Ruffino's ALS, pp. 240-248;
19. Goebl's ALD, pp. 248-251;
20. Kristol's ALAVAL, pp. 258-264.
N.B. All the bibliography indicated can be consulted at the Library of Ancient Sciences and Modern Philology (SAFM). A useful reference tool, which will be referred to frequently, is: Gerhard Rohlfs, Panorama delle lingue neolatine. Piccolo atlante linguistico pan-romanzo, Gunter Narr, Tübingen, 1986 (some language maps from this atlas will be discussed in class and must be brought to the exam).
Notice for non-attending students
Non-attending students are required to obtain good lecture notes from attending colleagues; it is recommended that they use complete notes taken with care and attention.
For part C, non-attending students will prepare 8 (instead of 5) of the topics of their choice. Additional bibliography to be brought to the exam will be agreed upon with the lecturer during office hours; non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the lecturer in good time.
Additional bibliography to be brought to the exam will be agreed upon with the professor; non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the professor in advance to schedule an appointment during student reception.
For part A:
- Lecture notes;
- Alberto Varvaro, Il latino e la formazione delle lingue romanze, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2014;
- Henriette Walter, L'avventura delle lingue in Occidente, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1999 (reprinted 2006), in-depth study of pp. 5-10 (notes p. 429); 11-24 (notes pp. 429-30); 93-278 (notes pp. 435-448).
For part B:
- Lecture notes;
- Marcello Barbato, Le lingue romanze. Profilo storico-comparativo, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2017.
For part C:
- Lecture notes;
- Corrado Grassi, La geografia linguistica, in Lexikon der romanistischen Linguistik (LRL), edited by Günter Holtus, Michael Metzeltin, Christian Schmitt, vol. I, t. 1. Geschichte des Faches Romanistik. Methodologie (Das Sprachsystem), Max Niemeyer, Tübingen, 2nd ed. 2011, pp. 207-235;
- Lorenzo Massobrio, Federica Cugno, Gli atlanti linguistici della Romània. Corso di Geografia linguistica, Alessandria, Edizioni dell'Orso, 2010, in-depth study of pp. 1-36, 42-47 (ALF) and 50-73 (AIS and ALI), as well as five (eight, for non-attending students) topics chosen from those listed below:
1. Griera's ALC and Veny and Pons i Griera's ALDC, pp. 47-50 and 94-99;
2. Pușcariu, Pop and Petrovici's ALR I and II, pp. 73-80;
3. Navarro Tomás' ALPI, Alvar's ALEP and Cintra's ALEPG, pp. 80-85 and 103-104;
4. Gilliéron-Edmont's ALCo and Bottiglioni's ALEIC, pp. 107-115;
5. The atlases of the Ardennes, the Vosges and the survey in Angoumoins, pp. 118-127
6. The atlases of the Landes and the Terres Froides, pp. 116-118 and 127-129;
7. Dauzat's NALF, pp. 134-139;
8. Gardette's ALLy, pp. 139-143;
9. Séguy's ALG, pp. 143-155;
10. Nauton's ALMC, pp. 155-160;
11. Haust's ALW, pp. 168-171;
12. NALR and ALM by Uder, pp. 171-178;
13. ALA by Griera and ALEA by Alvar, pp. 178-186;
14. ALEANR, ALECant and ALECaLe by Alvar, pp. 188-193;
15. García Mouton's ALECMan, pp. 193-198;
16. the Extremadura atlas, ALEAc and ALL, pp. 198-203;
17. Terracini and Franceschi's ALSar, pp. 206-217;
18. Ruffino's ALS, pp. 240-248;
19. Goebl's ALD, pp. 248-251;
20. Kristol's ALAVAL, pp. 258-264.
N.B. All the bibliography indicated can be consulted at the Library of Ancient Sciences and Modern Philology (SAFM). A useful reference tool, which will be referred to frequently, is: Gerhard Rohlfs, Panorama delle lingue neolatine. Piccolo atlante linguistico pan-romanzo, Gunter Narr, Tübingen, 1986 (some language maps from this atlas will be discussed in class and must be brought to the exam).
Notice for non-attending students
Non-attending students are required to obtain good lecture notes from attending colleagues; it is recommended that they use complete notes taken with care and attention.
For part C, non-attending students will prepare 8 (instead of 5) of the topics of their choice. Additional bibliography to be brought to the exam will be agreed upon with the lecturer during office hours; non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the lecturer in good time.
Additional bibliography to be brought to the exam will be agreed upon with the professor; non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the professor in advance to schedule an appointment during student reception.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a single oral test, grading on a scale of 30; the minimum mark for passing the exam is 18.
The exam aimed at verifying:
1) The knowledge of course syllabus contents;
2) The ability of critical thinking and application of the analysis methodologies explained in class;
3) The quality and efficacy of presentation
4) The competence in the use of discipline-specific terminology
All the students who are going to take this exam (personally or by e-mail) are required to hand to the teacher, at least 10 days before the start of the exam session, a short paper (max. 15.000 characters), containing a written exercise on a topic, previously agreed with the teacher, aimed at showing the ability to prepare independently a thorough linguistic examination of a text. The paper will contribute to the final evaluation and will be the subject of a brief exposure during the exam.
Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher (during office hours or by e-mail) before studying for their exam.
International students or incoming Erasmus are promptly invited to contact the teacher of the course.
The exam mode for SLD students and/or for students with other disabilities will have to be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the Office in charge.
The exam aimed at verifying:
1) The knowledge of course syllabus contents;
2) The ability of critical thinking and application of the analysis methodologies explained in class;
3) The quality and efficacy of presentation
4) The competence in the use of discipline-specific terminology
All the students who are going to take this exam (personally or by e-mail) are required to hand to the teacher, at least 10 days before the start of the exam session, a short paper (max. 15.000 characters), containing a written exercise on a topic, previously agreed with the teacher, aimed at showing the ability to prepare independently a thorough linguistic examination of a text. The paper will contribute to the final evaluation and will be the subject of a brief exposure during the exam.
Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher (during office hours or by e-mail) before studying for their exam.
International students or incoming Erasmus are promptly invited to contact the teacher of the course.
The exam mode for SLD students and/or for students with other disabilities will have to be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the Office in charge.
L-FIL-LET/09 - ROMANCE PHILOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Tagliani Roberto
Professor(s)
Reception:
The student reception is only by appointment, in the professor's office. Please contact by email [email protected]
Department of Literary, Philological and Linguistic Studies, Modernistic section - Entrance B, 1st floor, room n. 1062