OVERVIEW

This course provides students with a foundation in the scientific study of human language and natural languages. After an introduction to the properties of human language, we will analyse the main levels of linguistic description: the phonetic and phonological level, the morphological level, the syntactic level and the semantic level. Next, we will focus on historical linguistic topics, ranging from the genealogical classification of languages to the analysis of various cases of language change.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will provide students with basic theoretical and methodological notions for the description and interpretation of the linguistic data and phenomena they will deal with in the course of their studies. More specifically, the first part of the course (general linguistics) aims to familiarize students with key concepts in linguistics (e.g. language, languages, linguistic sign), and to provide the conceptual and terminological means needed to study language at the various levels of linguistic analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics). The second part of the course (historical linguistics) aims to introduce basic notions concerning language change and the genealogical and typological classification of world languages.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course, the student will:

• Gain an understanding of the main characterizing properties of human language and of natural languages.
• Gain the essential knowledge needed to analyse languages at the phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic level, and master the appropriate terminology. Moreover, the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data.
• Know the main ways in which languages can be classified.
• Know the main linguistic families and subfamilies, especially those of the of the Indo-European family (genealogical classification)
• Know the main criteria that are used to classify languages based on structural resemblances and differences (typological classification).
• Know introductory notions of historical linguistics, especially those discussed during the course. Moreover, the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data, commenting cases of language change based on those discussed during the classes.
• Be acquainted with the main subdisciplines of linguistics, in particular with those introduced and discussed during the course.

PREREQUISITES

This is an introductory course: no prior knowledge of linguistics is therefore expected from students.

TEACHING METHODS

This course will be taught online through Teams and Aulaweb. It will include lectures as well as exercises on the most technical aspects of the discipline (e.g. phonetic transcription, morphological and syntactic analysis).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course consists of an introduction to general linguistics. More specifically:

• The notions such as “language” and “linguistic sign”.
• Phonetics and phonology (linguistic sounds): articulatory phonetics, phonetic transcription; the notions of phoneme, allophone, and minimal pair 
• Morphology (words and their internal structure): the notions of word, morpheme, allomorph; morphological processes of derivation and composition; morphological analysis of words
• Syntax: structure of phrases and sentences
• Semantics (meaning): notions of lexical semantics 

The second part of the course focuses on language classification and language change. More specifically:

• Synchrony vs diachrony. 
• Genealogical classification, focusing on the Indo-European family. 
• Language change, with examples from Indo-European languages.
• Typological classification, focusing on morphological and syntactic typology

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Berruto, G. e Cerruti, M. (2017). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET.
• Grandi, N. (2003). Fondamenti di tipologia linguistica, Roma: Carocci.

Students who are not attending classes should also read the following book:

• Masini, F. & Grandi, N. (2017). Tutto ciò che hai sempre voluto sapere sul linguaggio e sulle lingue. Bologna: Caissa Italia.

Additional readings and learning materials will be presented during the classes and made available to the students.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCA STRIK LIEVERS (President)

MICHELE PRANDI

CHIARA FEDRIANI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

GLOTTOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS A

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will include:

1. Exercises (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax)
2. Open questions to verify knowledge of the general and historical linguistic topics addressed during classes and in the textbooks. 

Written test. Should the public health situation not allow it: oral exam through Teams. Students will be given sufficient notice about the exam mode.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam assesses the level of theoretical knowledge achieved by the student, and the ability to apply it to the analysis of the linguistic data.

The evaluation is based on the correct completion of the exercises and, especially as concerns open questions, on expressive clarity and mastery of the linguistic terminology.

Exam schedule