OVERVIEW

PRAGMATICS AND OTHER ISSUES OF CONTEMPORARY GERMAN LANGUAGE

The course is a 6-credits-course  consisting  of  a theoretical module of 36 hours (held in the 2nd semester).

Teachers:

Prof. Gerdes, Joachim (part I, 24 ore); Prof. BürgerKoftis, Michaela (part II, 8 ore); Prof. Spazzarini, Serena (part III, 4 ore) /

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After a successful participation students will have a good command of the different language varieties of contemporary German language

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Part one:

- Students will learn how to analyze German texts of different typologies using methods of pragmalinguistics

- Target of the course is to have command of the main theories of linguistic pragmatics and speech act theory

- After a successful participation students will be competent in analyzing statements in German language according to pragmalinguistic criteria

- Having participated successfully in the course students will be familiar with the methods of conversation analysis

- Having participated successfully in the course students will have achieved knowledge in contrastive and intercultural pragmatics

Part two

- The course aims to provide knowledge about the pluricentricity of the German language and other aspects of multilingualism and linguistic creativity.

- The course imparts tools for analyzing elements of literary language from a contrastive perspective.

PREREQUISITES

Language level B2 in German language is required for participation.

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lecture (German Linguistics, 36 two hours teaching units) will be conducted in form of class teaching and seminary activities.
 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Subject of the module will be different issues of linguistic pragmatics, especially will be addressed arguments such as deixis, direct and indirect speech acts, cooperative principles, conversational implicatures and methods of conversation analysis. Moreover, relevant issues of contrastive and intercultural pragmatics will be considered. The theoretical module is meant to familiarize students with the linguistic themes mentioned above in order to provide them with basic knowledge for a better comprehension of written and oral texts as well as of various varieties of the German present-day language.

In the second part various linguistic aspects will be discussed as for example the pluricentricity of German language, multilinguism and creativity, linguistic biographies as well as contrastive linguistics from a literary point of view.

Not attending students: the program of the exams of the practical language exercises and of the theory class don’t differ from exams for students that take part in the lessons.

The program of the exams is valid according to the study regulations until February 2026.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Ammon, Ulrich: Die deutsche Sprache in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Das Problem der nationalen Varietäten. Berlin/New York: de Gruyter, 1995
• Ehrhardt, Claus / Heringer, Hans Jürgen: Pragmatik, Stuttgart: UTB, 2011.
• Finkbeiner, Rita: Einführung in die Pragmatik, Freiburg i. Brsg.: WBG / Herder.
• Meibauer, Jörg: Pragmatik, Tübingen: Stauffenburg, 20082.
• www.polyphonie.at

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

JOACHIM HANS BERND GERDES (President)

SERENA SPAZZARINI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2nd semester:

February 19, h 15-17, aula 9

February 20, h 15-17, aula I

For more details see Aulaweb

Class schedule

GERMAN LINGUISTICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written+Oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theory lessons will be concluded by: 1) a written exam (Prof.ssa Spazzarini, 2/3 questions) and 2) an oral exam (Prof. Gerdes / Prof.ssa Bürger-Koftis), in which the arguments treated during the class will be asked about. During the exam the students have to provide evidence of their profound knowledge of the arguments dealt with during the lessons, the designed texts and the materials published in Aulaweb. Exam inscription on the Website of Genoa University (www.unige.it) at the link „servizi online per gli studenti“

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group

The exam can be recognized as obligatory exam in Linguistics (A or B language) in the master course in “Translation and Interpretation” LM 94 as an optional exam (esame a scelta) in the master course in “Modern languages and literatures for cultural services” LM37/38.

Credits

The exam is equivalent to 6 credit points.

Languages

Lessons will be held in German language.

Students with certifications:

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.