LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course offers an introduction to the linguistic study of pragmatics and of the lexicon. In the first part of the course (pragmatics) we will analyze the communicative strategies and the linguistic choices of speakers in relation to different contextual variables, assuming orality as the basic mode of different types of communication, also in an intercultural perspective. The second part of the course (lexicon) is dedicated to lexical semantics, with particular attention to interlinguistic variation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students will:

• Know how to identify and process the information conveyed in intercultural communication
• Know the rules for a correct communication in intercultural contexts.
• Possess the tools that allow them to improve their intercultural communicative competence, identifying potential sources of misunderstanding and problems in the management of conversational routines.
• Possess the theoretical and terminological tools to describe the lexicon of languages and its structure.
• Know basic notions of linguistic typology, which will allow them to approach the study of the lexicon in an interlinguistic perspective.
• Be able to use electronic corpora to extract information about the lexemes of a language.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge in General Linguistics.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal teaching accompanied by discussions on linguistic data, where the active participation of students will be stimulated. Online classes (Microsoft Teams)

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course (Prof. Fedriani) will be dedicated to the study of intercultural pragmatics and will consist of a theoretical part, dedicated to the basic notions and interpretative foundations intercultural communication pragmatics (descriptive models of culture and identity; from communicative competence to intercultural communicative competence; (dis)courtesy theory, facework strategies; principles of conversation analysis) and a hands-on part, dedicated to the discussion of the main types of problems and conflicts that can arise in multilingual and multicultural communicative contexts, with particular attention to work and mediation environments. Through the illustration of some case studies, we will reflect on the language-specific and culture-specific dimensions in the expression of linguistic acts and conversational routines: students will be asked to analyze the structure of interaction and to propose strategies for the prevention and resolution of conflicts generated by an incorrect or unconscious management of intercultural communication. 

The second part of the course (Prof. Strik Lievers) will focus on the lexicon. First, a theoretical introduction to the study of the lexicon will be provided, touching on the following topics: the notion of word and its problematic nature both at an intralinguistic and interlinguistic level; words and meaning (ambiguity, polysemy, homonymy, mechanisms of semantic extension); lexical structure (word classes, relations among words); theories and models of lexical and semantic information representation. Starting from this theoretical basis, the study of the lexicon from an interlinguistic and typological point of view will be tackled through the in-depth analysis of some case studies. Theoretical lectures will be accompanied by hands-on sessions aimed at exploring the use of corpora and other resources for the study of the lexicon.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Bettoni, Camilla. 2006. Usare un’altra lingua. Guida alla pragmatica interculturale. Bari: Laterza, capitoli 4, 5 e 6. 
• Jezek, E. (2011). Lessico. Classi di parole, strutture, combinazioni. Seconda edizione. Bologna: il Mulino, capitoli 2, 3, 5, 6. 

Additional readings and materials will be indicated during the course, and will be made available to students. 

Non-attending students are invited to get in touch with Prof. Fedriani and Prof. Strik Lievers to have access to the AulaWeb area which includes the course materials.