OVERVIEW

The course addresses topics lexical semantics and pragmatics, from an interlinguistic and intercultural perspective.

AIMS AND CONTENT

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:

• Possess the theoretical and terminological tools to describe the lexicon of languages and its structure.
• Know basic notions of lexical typology, which will allow them to approach the study of the lexicon in an interlinguistic perspective.
• Acquire basic knowledge of how to use electronic corpora to extract information about the lexemes of a language.
• 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 construction of different speech acts and in the management of conversational routines.

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

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course (Prof. Strik Lievers, 18 hours, first semester) 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 (syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations among words); theories and models of lexical and semantic information representation. Starting from this theoretical basis the study of the lexicon will be addressed from an interlinguistic and typological perspective, and the issue of linguistic relativity in particular will be explored. 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.

The second part of the course (Prof. Fedriani, 18 hours, second semester) 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. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bettoni, Camilla. 2006. Usare un’altra lingua. Guida alla pragmatica interculturale. Bari: Laterza, Ch. 4, 5 e 6. 

Jezek, E. 2011. Lessico. Classi di parole, strutture, combinazioni. Seconda edizione. Bologna: il Mulino, Ch. 2, 3, 5, 6. 

Slides (AulaWeb)

Same materials for non-attending students. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCA STRIK LIEVERS (President)

CHIARA FEDRIANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will begin on October 2, 2024, and will take place every Wednesday from 10 AM to 12 PM in the Aula Magna (Polo Didattico, Via delle Fontane)

Class schedule

ADVANCED LINGUISTICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The learning objectives will be assessed through a written test, composed of open questions aimed at verifying the mastery of the theoretical bases of the discipline and of exercises involving the application of the theoretical notions to actual linguistic data.

The evaluation takes into account both the mastery of the contents and the correctness and formal clarity of the answers.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

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.