OVERVIEW

The course addresses the complexity of the English syntax and its syntax-semantics interface, also contrastively with the Italian language, through the analysis and translation of a range of text types and genres.

The course includes a practical English language module ("esercitazioni")  aiming to develop students’ practical competence at the B2.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The English Language and Translation 2 course continues the theoretical introduction to English language and linguistics (also contrastively with the Italian language) and focuses on syntax and the syntax-semantics interface with the aim of fostering students’ competence suitable to identify complex translation phenomena. The course includes a practical English language module at the B2.2 Level of the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course addresses some complex syntactic phenomena across the linguistic and textual systems of the English language, also contrastively with Italian, in a range of text types and genres, with a view to discussing how they contribute to meaning construction and how they travel across the cultural divide.

The course also aims  to develop students’ practical competence at B2.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The course aims to:

• introduce students to the scientific study of the English Syntax, with a special focus on the interface between syntax and semantics;

• make students aware of the similarities and differences between English and Italian syntactic and semantic aspects of the two languages;

• develop students’ analytical skills;

• bring students to the B2.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

PREREQUISITES

Competence of English at B2 level and competence of Italian at least at B2 level.

TEACHING METHODS

In-presence lessons.

• The linguistics module is made up of weekly lectures (3 hours a week over 12 weeks in the first semester).

• The practical module is made up of weekly classes (4 hours a week over 20 weeks, i.e. 10 weeks per semester).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

English Language II is divided into two parts: a one-semester Linguistics Module ("Modulo Teorico"), which is held in the first semester and described in more detail below, and a two-semester practical language module ("Esercitazioni"). 

Each component ("Linguistics module" and "Practical language module") is assessed separately. The theoretical module is assessed through a written paper, which incudes open questions and exercises, at the end of the first semester. The practical language module is assessed at the end of the second semester through a written test and an interview. 

The Linguistics Module is an introduction to the English syntax, from a usage-based constructional approach, and it aims to enable students

- to learn about the categorisations of words,

- to identify the form and function of phrases,

- to identify forms of modality and their pragmatic fucntions;

- to describe the types of clauses and sentences,

- to identify marked sentences and their pragmatic values;

- to describe syntactic phenomena and their translation in the English-Italian pair.

The Practical language module aims to bring students to the B2.2 level (upper end of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages B2 level). 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• van Gelderen, Elly. 2010. An Introduction to the Grammar of English. (revised edition). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

• Murphy, Lynn. 2010. Lexical Meaning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, chapter 9 ("Predication: verbs, events, and states"): pp. 172-191.

• Swann, Michael. 2018. Practical English Usage. Book and Online Practice. 4th edition. Oxfrod: Oxford University Press.

• Biber, Douglas, Conrad, Susan & Leech, Geoffrey. 2012. Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.

• Jones, Daniel. 2011. Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (edited by Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling),  (18th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Further material will be available on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANNALISA BAICCHI (President)

ILARIA RIZZATO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 2023.

Class schedule

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The theoretical module is assessed through a written exam paper, which includes open questions and exercises. 

The practical part is assessed through a written test and an oral interview.    

Calendario Esami

sessione estiva:

sessione autunnale:

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theoretical module is assessed through a written paper, which includes open questions and exercises. There are two sittings in each of the three exam sessions. Students can choose only one sitting per session and cannot repeat a failed exam in the same session. 

The practical module is assessed through a written test and an oral interview. There are two sittings in the summer and autumn sessions and one sitting in the winter session. When a session has two sittings, students can choose only one sitting per session and cannot repeat a failed exam in the same session.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance is compulsory for the Practical Module and it is strongly recommended for the Theory Module.

Strongly recommended:  enrol on the course on Aulaweb in mid-September.

Special needs students should contact Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it).