Italian Linguistics
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the student with a solid basic training in Italian linguistics, giving him the ability to describe Italian as a linguistic system, where necessary through formalizations; to represent it as a set of socially determined varieties; to grasp its evolution over time, through reference to fundamental literary and non-literary texts, in their dynamic relationship between expressive instances and institutional forms.
Expected learning outcomes
As for the expected learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, at the end of the course, the student will have acquired solid basic information on the characteristics of Italian as a linguistic system and on its historical development. The student will also be able to analyze literary and non literary texts from a linguistic perspective.
With regard to skills acquisition, at the end of the course the student should be able to report with convincing accuracy and completeness of information on the structural characteristics italian; he/she should be able to report, possibly referring to some texts, on the history of Italian and on the evolution of the italian language system; he/she should be able to understand and comment on typologically different texts of various chronological heights.
With regard to skills acquisition, at the end of the course the student should be able to report with convincing accuracy and completeness of information on the structural characteristics italian; he/she should be able to report, possibly referring to some texts, on the history of Italian and on the evolution of the italian language system; he/she should be able to understand and comment on typologically different texts of various chronological heights.
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
blended learning
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course provides an overview of aspects of Italian phonetics and lexicon; it also examines elements of historical grammar and key stages in the history of the Italian language through the reading of a range of texts, not only literary, spanning different periods. Particular attention is given to recent and very recent developments brought about by new media, digital media, and LLMs (Large Language Models underpinning so-called "artificial intelligence").
More specifically, the first part presents selected features of the phonetic structure of Italian; the second retraces certain stages in the evolution of the Italian grammatical system from the Latin-to-Vulgar phase, with a focus on significant moments in the history of the language; the third describes the lexicon and its structure; and the fourth outlines developments in Italian in the age of new media and "artificial intelligence".
International or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the course lecturer promptly. Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties (SpLD) must be agreed with the lecturer, in coordination with the relevant university office.
More specifically, the first part presents selected features of the phonetic structure of Italian; the second retraces certain stages in the evolution of the Italian grammatical system from the Latin-to-Vulgar phase, with a focus on significant moments in the history of the language; the third describes the lexicon and its structure; and the fourth outlines developments in Italian in the age of new media and "artificial intelligence".
International or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the course lecturer promptly. Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties (SpLD) must be agreed with the lecturer, in coordination with the relevant university office.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no entry requirements. Successful attendance, however, benefits from the possession of a basic knowledge of the Latin language (essentially: of morphology).
Teaching methods
Teaching consists mainly of remote lectures, both synchronous and asynchronous, that include the analysis of forms, structures, sentences and texts; the teacher may propose that students work on short assignements, including multimedia ones, on agreed topics. These assignements generally require linguistic analysis of texts and in any case require reflection on language and its uses. Within the lectures, moments of interaction through the Wooclap platform can be planned; moments of practice are proposed that require direct student intervention. For this reason, class attendance is strongly recommended.
Support materials, in the form of presentations and texts in pdf format, are made available through the Ariel platform.
Support materials, in the form of presentations and texts in pdf format, are made available through the Ariel platform.
Teaching Resources
Part A:
- Massimo Prada, Introduzione alla Fonetica. Italiano, Inglese, Francese, Milano, Led, 2010.
Part B:
- Paolo D'Achille, Breve grammatica storica dell'italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
- Silvia Morgana, Breve storia della lingua italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2009
Part C:
- Giuseppe Antonelli (a cura di), La vita delle parole. Il lessico dell'italiano tra storia e società, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023 (i capp. I, III, V, X, XII, XV, XVI).
Part D:
- Massimo Prada, L'italiano in rete, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2015
- Ilaria Fiorentini, L'italiano dei social network, Roma, Carocci, 2026
- Anna-Maria De Cesare, L'italiano sintetico dell'intelligenza artificiale generativa, Firenze, Cesati, 2026
Students who have to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A, B and C or A, B and D.
Those who have to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A and B.
NON ATTENDING students:
Parte A:
- Massimo Prada, Introduzione alla Fonetica. Italiano, Inglese, Francese, Milano, Led, 2010.
Parte B:
- Paolo D'Achille, Breve grammatica storica dell'italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
- Silvia Morgana, Breve storia della lingua italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2009
- Claudio Marazzini, Breve storia della questione della lingua, Roma, Carocci, 2018
Parte C:
- Giuseppe Antonelli (a cura di), La vita delle parole. Il lessico dell'italiano tra storia e società, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023 (i capp. I, III, V, X, XII, XV, XVI)
- Giovanni Adamo, Valeria della Valle, Le parole del lessico italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2018.
Parte D:
- Massimo Prada, L'italiano in rete, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2015
- Ilaria Fiorentini, L'italiano dei social network, Roma, Carocci, 2026
- Anna-Maria De Cesare, L'italiano sintetico dell'intelligenza artificiale generativa, Firenze, Cesati, 2026
Students who have to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A, B and C or A, B and D.
Those who have to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A and B.
- Massimo Prada, Introduzione alla Fonetica. Italiano, Inglese, Francese, Milano, Led, 2010.
Part B:
- Paolo D'Achille, Breve grammatica storica dell'italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
- Silvia Morgana, Breve storia della lingua italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2009
Part C:
- Giuseppe Antonelli (a cura di), La vita delle parole. Il lessico dell'italiano tra storia e società, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023 (i capp. I, III, V, X, XII, XV, XVI).
Part D:
- Massimo Prada, L'italiano in rete, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2015
- Ilaria Fiorentini, L'italiano dei social network, Roma, Carocci, 2026
- Anna-Maria De Cesare, L'italiano sintetico dell'intelligenza artificiale generativa, Firenze, Cesati, 2026
Students who have to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A, B and C or A, B and D.
Those who have to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A and B.
NON ATTENDING students:
Parte A:
- Massimo Prada, Introduzione alla Fonetica. Italiano, Inglese, Francese, Milano, Led, 2010.
Parte B:
- Paolo D'Achille, Breve grammatica storica dell'italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
- Silvia Morgana, Breve storia della lingua italiana, Roma, Carocci, 2009
- Claudio Marazzini, Breve storia della questione della lingua, Roma, Carocci, 2018
Parte C:
- Giuseppe Antonelli (a cura di), La vita delle parole. Il lessico dell'italiano tra storia e società, Bologna, il Mulino, 2023 (i capp. I, III, V, X, XII, XV, XVI)
- Giovanni Adamo, Valeria della Valle, Le parole del lessico italiano, Roma, Carocci, 2018.
Parte D:
- Massimo Prada, L'italiano in rete, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2015
- Ilaria Fiorentini, L'italiano dei social network, Roma, Carocci, 2026
- Anna-Maria De Cesare, L'italiano sintetico dell'intelligenza artificiale generativa, Firenze, Cesati, 2026
Students who have to take the exam for 9 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A, B and C or A, B and D.
Those who have to take the exam for 6 ECTS will attend the lessons (and then study the materials) relating to parts A and B.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The achievement of the learning objectives is ascertained with an oral test. In addition to the correctness of the contents, their relevance, the possession of the disciplinary lexicon and the ability to grasp linguistically salient phenomena within relevant texts are positively evaluated.
Papers produced during the year cooperate in determining the evaluation.
Marks are out of 30; minimum passing grade 18.
Papers produced during the year cooperate in determining the evaluation.
Marks are out of 30; minimum passing grade 18.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Part D
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Surname A-H
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Piotti Mario
Part C
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Piotti Mario
Part D
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Piotti Mario
Surname I-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Part D
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday, 13.30 - 16.30
The teacher sees students through MSTeams or in person; the appointment is made by email.