OVERVIEW

GERMAN SYNTAX AND SEMANTICS – A CONTRASTIVE APPROACH

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

German language skills on B1 level.

Competence in metalinguistic reflection regarding German syntax and semantics in contrastive view (German / Italian language).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

- learning target of the class is to reach the B1 level described in the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) in German language

- to know the structure German sentences and syntactic phrases

- to be able to operate syntactic analysis of simple and complex paratactic and hypotactic sentence constructions

- acquisition of knowledge about the main syntactical theories

- to have competence in analyzing syntactical structures taking into consideration contrastive aspects between German and Italian language

- acquisition of basic knowledge about linguistic semantics of German language in contrastive perspective with Italian language

PREREQUISITES

Language level A2 in German language is required for participation.

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lectures (36 lessons, 2nd semester) will be accompanied during the whole academic year by practical language exercises (160 lessons, yearlong). Time schedules, programs, instructors and auditoriums of the language exercises will be published in Aulaweb and will be announced on the websites of the single instructors in September 2022. The language exercises include yearlong lessons in translation German-Italian / Italian-German (40 lessons).

Lectures accompanied by language exercises. The theory lectures and the practical language exercises will take place in form of traditional classroom teaching. Eventual provisions depending on the development of the sanitary situation will be communicated in Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the theory class students will familiarize with fundamental knowledge about syntax and semantics of the German language. During a general survey about the most important aspects of the structure of the German sentence special issues of the German sentence will be taken in consideration taking into account the structure of the Italian syntax. At the end of the class an introduction to linguistic semantics of the German language is scheduled, considering the linguistic terminology also in German language and furthermore contrastive issues aiming on translation from German into Italian language and vice versa will be taken in consideration.

The practical language exercises which include translation exercises from Italian to German language and vice versa will bring the students from the A2 level to the B1 level according to the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEF), taking in account the four essential abilities (listening, reading, speaking, writing), as well as the scheduled grammar knowledge.

The program of the course is valid until February 2024 in accordance with the departmental regulation. The program of the exams is valid according to the study regulations until February 2022. Tha program is valid as well for students that will not attend class lessons. Bibliographical informations and other material will be published in Aulaweb.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Modulo teorico / Theoretical module

Blühdorn, Hardarik / Foschi Albert, Marina: Leggere e comprendere il tedesco. Manuale per studenti e docenti in formazione, Pisa: Pisa University Press, 2014.

Di Meola, Claudio: La linguistica tedesca, Roma: Bulzoni, 2014.

Koesters Gensini, Sabine: Le parole del tedesco: Tipi, strutture, relazioni, uso, Roma: Carocci, 2009.

Pittner, Karin / Bermann, Judith: Deutsche Syntax. Ein Arbeitsbuch, Tübingen: Gunter Narr, 2004.

Busse, Dietrich: Semantik, Stuttgart: Fink/UTB, 2009.

Tomaselli, Alessandra: Introduzione alla sintassi del tedesco, Bari: Edizioni B.A. Graphis, 2004.

Ulteriore materiale didattico e bibliografico verrà fornito durante il semestre (Aulaweb).

Further bibliographical and didactic material will be provided during the semester (Aulaweb).

Applied module

Will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

JOACHIM HANS BERND GERDES (President)

SERENA SPAZZARINI

SIMONA LEONARDI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Applied module: october 10, 2022 (see Aulaweb)

Theoretical module: 2nd semester, february 2023

Class schedule

GERMAN LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Theory class:

written exam (40% del final mark)

Language exercises:

written exam (essay writing) +

written translation exam (Italian-German) +

written translation exam (German-Italian)+

oral exam

(average of the marks of the exercise exams: 60% of the final mark)

Attention: The modalities of the exams can be changed because of adjustments due to anti-covid security measures.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In the written exam of the theory class students will give evidence of their knowledge of the basics of German syntax and semantics in order to be able to analyze parts of speech and the structure of sentences and syntagmata as well as to recognize semantic relationships between words. Assessment criteria are the correctness and completeness of the answers as well as the correct usage of linguistic terminology both in German and in English.

The written exams of the language exercises are designated to give proof of the knowledge of German language on B1 level regarding reading comprehension and written skills, basic competences in translation from German to Italian and from Italian to German, as well as the familiarity with basic grammar. Assessment criteria are grammatical correctness, the ability to express oneself appropriately in a written exam as well as to understand a written text both globally and in detail. The oral exam is meant to examine the competence to understand listening exercises and to use the foreign language appropriately in a dialogue. Assessment criteria are the correct usage and interpretation of grammatical rules and vocabulary as far as requested for attaining the B1 level.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group

The exam is obligatory for students in the second year of the course of studies in Theories and techniques of language mediation.

Credits

The total exam consisting in theory class and language exercises is equivalent to 12 credit points.

Languages

Lessons will be held in Italian and German language.

Students with certifications:

Students with certification of learning or other disabilities should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course in order to make arrangements for possible accommodations.