OVERVIEW

General linguistics is the subdomain of human sciences that studies the nature and functioning of languages and human language in general. The course aims to provide a first orientation and introduction to the field.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course intends to provide the most important theoretical and practical tools that are necessary for a linguistic analysis of words, utterances and verbal interactions in Italian and the main European languages. Particular attention is paid to phonetics and phonology, morphology and word formation processes, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, typology and (historic and contemporary) language variation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course, after an introduction to the basic concepts of semiotics and communication and to the fundamental features of human language, addresses the main areas of modern linguistics. Specifically, the course is devoted to phonetics and phonology, morphology and word formation processes, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, typology and (historic and contemporary) language variation. The explication is regularly accompanied and supplemented by examples, questions and exercises about everyday linguistic phenomena that ensure the student's comprehension of the nature and functioning of Italian and the main European contemporary and historical languages. Where possible and useful, the lecture adopts a cognitive and constructional standpoint that underlines several limits of contemporary linguistic theory. At the end of the course, the students are able to produce a phonetic transcription, to segment and analyze complex words and sentences and to define the meaning of words and utterances within their specific context. In addition, the students have an understanding of the typological position of Italian and other languages and are able to classify the main linguistic variation phenomena.

PREREQUISITES

The fundamental prerequisites are personal curiosity and interest in languages and human language in general. The course presents a scientific field starting with its foundations. However, since the syllabus of secondary school comprises, albeit from a different perspective, a part of its contents, the field is not totally new.

TEACHING METHODS

The course takes place in the virtual room that is accessible via the link in AulaWeb (Chrome or Firefox are recommended).

The texts of the course are available on the website http://www.stefan-schneider.at. For the username and the password consult AulaWeb.

Without registration to the course in AulaWeb, students can neither access the virtual room nor take exams. This regards also non-attending students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Syllabus for 6 ECTS (attending and non-attending students): basic concepts of semiotics and communication, fundamental features of human language, phonetics and phonology, morphology and word formation processes, elementary syntax.

Syllabus for 12 ECTS (attending and non-attending students): basic concepts of semiotics and communication, fundamental features of human language, phonetics and phonology, morphology and word formation processes, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, typology and (historic and contemporary) language variation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Basic text:
Berruto, Gaetano, Massimo Cerruti 2017. La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. 2nd edition. Torino: UTET.
Additional references are provided during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

STEFAN SCHNEIDER (President)

IRENE DE FELICE

GUIDO GIOVANNI BORGHI (Substitute)

CLAUDIA CAFFI (Substitute)

STEFAN SCHNEIDER (President)

IRENE DE FELICE

ROSA RONZITTI (President Substitute)

GUIDO GIOVANNI BORGHI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester: 19th October 2020

Second semester: 15th February 2021

Schedule: Monday, 3:15-4:45 pm, Tuesday, 3:15-4:45 pm

Class schedule

GENERAL LINGUISTICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam for 6 ECTS consists in a single written test with exercises and open questions.

The exam for 12 ECTS comprises two written tests with exercises and open questions (intermediate and final). The intermediate test is equivalent to the single 6-ECTS-test and gives access to the final test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam assesses above all the student's ability to prepare a phonetic transcription, to segment and analyze complex words and sentences and to define the meaning of words and utterances, to give a basic typological description of a language and to classify the main linguistic variation phenomena.

Exam schedule