Theoretical Linguistics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing students to General Linguistics, the discipline that studies human language in its extraordinary structural complexity. The course will propose a systematic dissertation of the different levels of the linguistic system (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax), with a particular emphasis on the history of linguistics and on the systematic and structured variability of languages in context. The analysis of linguistic structures will be further developed in the last part of the course, with a particular emphasis on the genealogic, areal and typological classification of world's languages.
By the end of the course, students will have at disposal the instruments of analysis of language on the different levels of the linguistic system, other than a knowledge of the evolution and the language uses in different contexts. In this respect, the course will strengthen those same basic competences vital to the education of professionals capable at operating in different communicative settings.
By the end of the course, students will have at disposal the instruments of analysis of language on the different levels of the linguistic system, other than a knowledge of the evolution and the language uses in different contexts. In this respect, the course will strengthen those same basic competences vital to the education of professionals capable at operating in different communicative settings.
Expected learning outcomes
The topics addressed in this course aim at equipping the students with systematic knowledges on the structures and the social-historical uses of human language. These knowledges provide the necessary competences for an autonomous and informed analysis of the different aspects of human language.
By the end of the course, it is expected for the students to have acquired the following:
1) Describe the theoretical and methodological foundations for the analysis of human language on the different levels of the linguistic system;
2) Apply the theoretical knowledges also to different and typological distant languages;
3) Discuss of actual case-studies of linguistic variation on different levels of the linguistic system by connecting those case-studies to the acquired theoretical notions.
By the end of the course, it is expected for the students to have acquired the following:
1) Describe the theoretical and methodological foundations for the analysis of human language on the different levels of the linguistic system;
2) Apply the theoretical knowledges also to different and typological distant languages;
3) Discuss of actual case-studies of linguistic variation on different levels of the linguistic system by connecting those case-studies to the acquired theoretical notions.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The course introduces the students to the scientific study of language and its structures, by giving the theoretical knowledges and the methodological instruments to analyze various levels of human languages, with detailed study of linguistic variability according to contexts of use.
Module 1: Linguistics, language and languages
The module introduces the main theoretical notions of Linguistics, with a short overview of this discipline from the 19th century till today. We will also analyze the different languages and the main properties of the language as a system.
Main topics in this module:
- Language and communication;
- Gestures, languages and language learning
- The structure of the linguistic sign;
- Short history of Linguistics
Module 2: The language pillars
In this module we will approach the fundamental levels of analysis of the linguistic sign, so that to acquire the technical terms and the methods of investigation of each one.
Main topics in this module:
- Phonetics and phonology
- Morphology and the lexicon
- Syntax
- Semantics
- Language typology
Besides front lessons, it is expected a consistent amount of practical exercises, to be done in class and as private learning, by using the reference materials and further exercises available on MyAriel.
Modulo 3: The application of linguistics today
In the last part of the course we will see how theoretical concepts developped in the two previous modules may adapt to the analysis of linguistic reality around us, with a particular emphasis on the topics of communication.
Main topics in this module:
- Sociolinguistics
- Pragmatics
- Ethnolinguistics
- Clinical and Forensic Linguistics
During the different modules various experts in linguistics will teach in guest (optional) classes, in order to offer the students an up-to-date overview of the developments of the discipline and its further perspectives.
The program of the guest classes and the precise structure of the different lessons for each modules will be uploaded on Ariel at the beginning of the course.
Module 1: Linguistics, language and languages
The module introduces the main theoretical notions of Linguistics, with a short overview of this discipline from the 19th century till today. We will also analyze the different languages and the main properties of the language as a system.
Main topics in this module:
- Language and communication;
- Gestures, languages and language learning
- The structure of the linguistic sign;
- Short history of Linguistics
Module 2: The language pillars
In this module we will approach the fundamental levels of analysis of the linguistic sign, so that to acquire the technical terms and the methods of investigation of each one.
Main topics in this module:
- Phonetics and phonology
- Morphology and the lexicon
- Syntax
- Semantics
- Language typology
Besides front lessons, it is expected a consistent amount of practical exercises, to be done in class and as private learning, by using the reference materials and further exercises available on MyAriel.
Modulo 3: The application of linguistics today
In the last part of the course we will see how theoretical concepts developped in the two previous modules may adapt to the analysis of linguistic reality around us, with a particular emphasis on the topics of communication.
Main topics in this module:
- Sociolinguistics
- Pragmatics
- Ethnolinguistics
- Clinical and Forensic Linguistics
During the different modules various experts in linguistics will teach in guest (optional) classes, in order to offer the students an up-to-date overview of the developments of the discipline and its further perspectives.
The program of the guest classes and the precise structure of the different lessons for each modules will be uploaded on Ariel at the beginning of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites are required for this course.
Teaching methods
The course consists in both lectures (in presence or in live streaming on Teams) and online materials for the asynchronous learning on the student part. These teaching materials on the Ariel platform consist of:
- More examples of application of the notions seen during the lectures, with notes provided by the teacher;
- More exercises than the ones seen during lectures, particularly useful for the preparation of the exam, with their solutions;
- Auto-evaluation tests with automatic correction to allow the student to check his/her learning during the course;
- Supporting material to help in the preparation of the exam (schemes, IPA charts, images).
Students will also find on Ariel:
- The slides projected during the lectures in .pdf;
- Link to extra tests of self-evaluations, exercises and online mini-games created by the professor to enhance the learning experience;
- Suggested extra readings for different topics (not mandatory for the exam);
- Indications of some websites of particular interest for the study of Linguistics (not mandatory for the exam).
Active participation during the course is strongly recommended.
- More examples of application of the notions seen during the lectures, with notes provided by the teacher;
- More exercises than the ones seen during lectures, particularly useful for the preparation of the exam, with their solutions;
- Auto-evaluation tests with automatic correction to allow the student to check his/her learning during the course;
- Supporting material to help in the preparation of the exam (schemes, IPA charts, images).
Students will also find on Ariel:
- The slides projected during the lectures in .pdf;
- Link to extra tests of self-evaluations, exercises and online mini-games created by the professor to enhance the learning experience;
- Suggested extra readings for different topics (not mandatory for the exam);
- Indications of some websites of particular interest for the study of Linguistics (not mandatory for the exam).
Active participation during the course is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Attending students
1) Arcodia, G.F. & Panunzi, A. (a cura di, 2023) Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 10;
2) Castagneto, M. & Meluzzi, C. (2025) Eserciziario di linguistica e glottologia, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 9 (in particular, the online exercises!)
3) Graffi, G. Breve storia della linguistica, Roma: Carocci, 2020 or following, only chapters 5, 6 e 7;
4) Orletti, F, La conversazione diseguale, Roma: Carocci, 2000 or following.
Not-attending students
1) Arcodia, G.F. & Panunzi, A. (a cura di, 2023) Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 10;
2) Castagneto, M. & Meluzzi, C. (2025) Eserciziario di linguistica e glottologia, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 9 (in particular, the online exercises!)
3) Graffi, G. Breve storia della linguistica, Roma: Carocci, 2020 or following;
4) Orletti, F, La conversazione diseguale, Roma: Carocci, 2000 or following.
5) Lombardi Vallauri, E. La lingua disonesta, Bologna: Il Mulino, 2019 or following
1) Arcodia, G.F. & Panunzi, A. (a cura di, 2023) Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 10;
2) Castagneto, M. & Meluzzi, C. (2025) Eserciziario di linguistica e glottologia, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 9 (in particular, the online exercises!)
3) Graffi, G. Breve storia della linguistica, Roma: Carocci, 2020 or following, only chapters 5, 6 e 7;
4) Orletti, F, La conversazione diseguale, Roma: Carocci, 2000 or following.
Not-attending students
1) Arcodia, G.F. & Panunzi, A. (a cura di, 2023) Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 10;
2) Castagneto, M. & Meluzzi, C. (2025) Eserciziario di linguistica e glottologia, Milano: Pearson, chapters from 1 to 9 (in particular, the online exercises!)
3) Graffi, G. Breve storia della linguistica, Roma: Carocci, 2020 or following;
4) Orletti, F, La conversazione diseguale, Roma: Carocci, 2000 or following.
5) Lombardi Vallauri, E. La lingua disonesta, Bologna: Il Mulino, 2019 or following
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will consist of a final oral interview in which the achievement of the learning objectives will be verified. During the interview, the student must be able to:
· Perform brief exercises in phonetic/phonological, morphological, and syntactic analysis, including on typologically diverse languages;
· Define correctly and with appropriate technical language the theoretical and methodological principles regarding different levels of linguistic analysis;
· Provide adequate exemplification of the theoretical concepts covered in lectures or in the textbooks;
· Critically discuss examples of the application of linguistic analysis to human language variability.
IMPORTANT: Passing the phonetic transcription and morpheme division test is an essential (though not sufficient) condition for continuing the examination.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty.
All students are required to take the oral examination.
Those who have already taken and passed the partial examination will be exempted from the parts already taken and passed. The partial test will be unique and conducted at the end of the course and will contain practical exercises in phonetics (phonetic transcription and identification of phones), morphology, syntax (trees and syntactic roles), and linguistic typology.
The final grade obtained in the partial examination will be averaged with the final examination. The grade of the partial examination remains valid for the entire duration of the academic year.
· Perform brief exercises in phonetic/phonological, morphological, and syntactic analysis, including on typologically diverse languages;
· Define correctly and with appropriate technical language the theoretical and methodological principles regarding different levels of linguistic analysis;
· Provide adequate exemplification of the theoretical concepts covered in lectures or in the textbooks;
· Critically discuss examples of the application of linguistic analysis to human language variability.
IMPORTANT: Passing the phonetic transcription and morpheme division test is an essential (though not sufficient) condition for continuing the examination.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty.
All students are required to take the oral examination.
Those who have already taken and passed the partial examination will be exempted from the parts already taken and passed. The partial test will be unique and conducted at the end of the course and will contain practical exercises in phonetics (phonetic transcription and identification of phones), morphology, syntax (trees and syntactic roles), and linguistic typology.
The final grade obtained in the partial examination will be averaged with the final examination. The grade of the partial examination remains valid for the entire duration of the academic year.
L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Meluzzi Chiara
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wed. 9:30 - 12:30 AM (it is suggested to book an appointement by writing an email)
Professor's office (STANZA AP.025, AT_Piano Ammezzato Terra, via Festa del Perdono, 7)