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 (glottology) aims to introduce basic notions concerning language change and the genealogical 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.

TEACHING METHODS

This course is mainly based on lectures. Lecture slides will be used.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course consists of an introduction to general linguistics. First, we will define key notions such as “language” and “linguistic sign”. Next, we will address the main levels of linguistic description: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics. As regards the phonological level (linguistic sounds), the notions of articulatory phonetics needed to describe linguistic sounds will be introduced, together with the International Phonetic Alphabet used for phonetic transcription; moreover, key notions such as phoneme, allophone, and minimal pair will be defined. As regards the morphological level (words and their internal structure) we will discuss the notion of word, morpheme, allomorph, and the morphological processes of derivation and composition; next we will analyse words morphologically. As regards the syntactic level, we will analyse the structure of phrases and sentences. As regards the semantic level, we will briefly discuss issues in lexical semantics (polysemy, semantic relations, etc.). At all levels of analysis, special attention will be devoted to interlinguistic variation and, especially as concerns mophosyntax, the topic will be approached from the point of view of linguistic typology.

The second part of the course introduces basic notions of historical linguistics. First, we will discuss the distinction between synchrony and diachrony. Next, the (inherently diachronic) genealogical approach to language classification will be introduced; special attention will be devoted to the Indo-European family. Finally, we will discuss some cases of language change, with examples from Indo-European languages.

During the course we will do exercises, especially as concerns the most technical aspects of the discipline (e.g. phonetic transcription, morphological analysis). At the end of the course we will do a mock-test.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaetano Berruto e Massimo Cerruti (2017). La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET.

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CHIARA FEDRIANI (President)

FRANCESCA STRIK LIEVERS (President)

MICHELE PRANDI

LESSONS

Class schedule

GLOTTOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS A

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test with:

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

During the classes we will do exercises, and at the end of the course we will do a mock-test that will clarify both the exam’s structure and the evaluation criteria.

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