Geography of Languages and Literatures
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The existing relationships between linguistic forms, literary narratives and spatial organisation will be analysed in the course through the lenses and tools of human geography. The course will analyse the importance of languages and literatures in the various actions taken by different human groups in order to improve the space in which they live and to shape the different involved landscapes. Attention will also be given to the representations and narratives enacted in various regions of the world and in the vast literary production influenced by the geographical dimension, as well as to the new eco-critical, dystopian and post-apocalyptic forms of writing. The course therefore aims to highlight all the environmental, cultural, political, geo-political, social and territorial mechanisms present in the linguistic communities, in their related literary forms and in a group of authors considered representative of the main regions of the world.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to interpret the main contemporary linguistic and literary systems set in the broader context of the geographical reality, the cultural and socio-economic contexts as well as the contemporary territorial practices. These systems will be interpreted by the students not only in their traditional and established dimensions, but also in their responsible, ethical, critical, solidarity-based and sustainable facets.
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 course aims to introduce students to critical reflection on the contents and its importance in complementing the traditional perspectives offered by linguistic and literary disciplines. The goal is to provide a thorough understanding of the ways in which languages and literatures are distributed across space, intertwined with specific historical and cultural contexts, and transformed over time in relation to political, social, and economic dynamics.
The course is structured into two parts (A and B): the first dedicated to the geography of languages, the second to the geography of literatures. Each section will address key disciplinary contents, illustrating both their theoretical and conceptual aspects and through individual and comparative analysis of case studies, selected to highlight the diversity of cultural and regional contexts.
The course is structured into two parts (A and B): the first dedicated to the geography of languages, the second to the geography of literatures. Each section will address key disciplinary contents, illustrating both their theoretical and conceptual aspects and through individual and comparative analysis of case studies, selected to highlight the diversity of cultural and regional contexts.
Prerequisites for admission
Attending and non-attending students who have never taken a geography exam in their university career will have the opportunity to acquire basic skills in the discipline by reading Murphy B. A., Geography. Why It Matters, Unicopli, Milan, 2025.
Teaching methods
Classes to emphasize the logical-conceptual learning channel; participattive lessons supported by linguistic and literary texts, films, images, photographs, and geo-cartographic representations to reinforce the various logical, visual, and iconographic learning channels; and dialogic lessons led by the teacher and experts on specific topics.
Teaching Resources
Besides what stated in the "Prerequisites" section, the course consists of two teaching units:
Teaching Unit A for attending students:
- lectures by the teacher and documents available on Moodle, the teaching platform of the University;
- Russo Krauss D., Lingue e spazi. Elementi per l'analisi geografica dell'espressione linguistica, Aracne, Roma, 2011.
Teaching Unit B for attending students:
- lectures by the teacher and documents available on Ariel, the teaching platform of the University;
- Marengo M., Geografia e Letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2022.
NON attending students will have to prepare their exam on three texts:
1) Russo Krauss D., Lingue e spazi. Elementi per l'analisi geografica dell'espressione linguistica, Aracne, Roma, 2011;
2) Marengo M., Geografia e Letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2022;
3) A text chosen from:
- Aru S., Tanca M. (a cura di), Convocare esperienze, immagini, narrazioni. Dare senso al paesaggio vol. 2, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2015 (only until page 168, included);
- Gabellieri N. (a cura di), Racconti di paesaggio: letteratura di viaggio e geografia tra didattica e valorizzazione, If Press, Morolo, 2024;
- Brazzelli N., Salvadè A.M. (a cura di), Città e paesaggi urbani tra geografia e letteratura, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2023;
- Fiorentino F., Paolucci G. (a cura di), Letteratura e cartografia, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2018;
- Nuvolati G., L'interpretazione dei luoghi. Flânerie come esperienza di vita, Firenze University Press, Firenze, 2013;
- Papotti D., Tomasi F., La geografia del racconto. Sguardi interdisciplinari sul paesaggio urbano nella narrativa italiana contemporanea, Peter Lang, Bruxelles, 2014 (available both in kindle or traditional format);
- Salvadè A.M. (a cura di), Altri Mondi. Tra geografia e letteratura, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2021.
Teaching Unit A for attending students:
- lectures by the teacher and documents available on Moodle, the teaching platform of the University;
- Russo Krauss D., Lingue e spazi. Elementi per l'analisi geografica dell'espressione linguistica, Aracne, Roma, 2011.
Teaching Unit B for attending students:
- lectures by the teacher and documents available on Ariel, the teaching platform of the University;
- Marengo M., Geografia e Letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2022.
NON attending students will have to prepare their exam on three texts:
1) Russo Krauss D., Lingue e spazi. Elementi per l'analisi geografica dell'espressione linguistica, Aracne, Roma, 2011;
2) Marengo M., Geografia e Letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2022;
3) A text chosen from:
- Aru S., Tanca M. (a cura di), Convocare esperienze, immagini, narrazioni. Dare senso al paesaggio vol. 2, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2015 (only until page 168, included);
- Gabellieri N. (a cura di), Racconti di paesaggio: letteratura di viaggio e geografia tra didattica e valorizzazione, If Press, Morolo, 2024;
- Brazzelli N., Salvadè A.M. (a cura di), Città e paesaggi urbani tra geografia e letteratura, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2023;
- Fiorentino F., Paolucci G. (a cura di), Letteratura e cartografia, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2018;
- Nuvolati G., L'interpretazione dei luoghi. Flânerie come esperienza di vita, Firenze University Press, Firenze, 2013;
- Papotti D., Tomasi F., La geografia del racconto. Sguardi interdisciplinari sul paesaggio urbano nella narrativa italiana contemporanea, Peter Lang, Bruxelles, 2014 (available both in kindle or traditional format);
- Salvadè A.M. (a cura di), Altri Mondi. Tra geografia e letteratura, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2021.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral examination designed to verify knowledge of the main themes of the Geography of Languages and Literatures covered in class or included in the texts listed in the course syllabus. Specifically, students will be assessed: on their ability to interpret the material and immaterial aspects of linguistic phenomena and literary forms in space; their communication skills regarding the main thematic areas of the discipline; and their critical interpretation skills regarding the topics covered in class.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours are held every Tuesday, on a weekly basis, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is not necessary to book.
Office hours will be held in presence in the office 1044 in Sesto San Giovanni or, for specific reasons, via Teams.