OVERVIEW

The course aims at providing students with a basic knowledge of the history of Italian and, more specifically, an overview of the linguistic history of Italian theatre.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course's goals are to familiarize students with the major institutions, documents, and figures in the history of the Italian language; to understand the structures of contemporary Italian and its sociolinguistic variation; to know the major stages of the linguistic history of Italian theater; and to learn how to read and interpret some key texts.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

To learn the key moments in the history of Italian language. To situate historically its texts and main authors. To internalize the basic concepts of Italian sociolinguistics. To define and identify the main traits of neostandard Italian. To illustrate synthetically the key moments in the linguistic history of Italian theatre and peculiar stylistic features of its main authors. To read, understand and interpret a crucial text of the Italian theatrical tradition.

PREREQUISITES

Elementary knowledge of the history of Italian literature

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

Students with disabilities and students with DSA are reminded that in order to request adaptations for examinations they must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be checked by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). Afterwards, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail must be sent to the teacher with whom you will be sitting the exam, including in copy knowledge of both the School's Referring Teacher for the inclusion of students with disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. In the e-mail it is necessary to specify: the name of the teaching subject; the date of the call; the student's surname, first name and matriculation number; the compensatory and dispensatory measures considered functional; and required.  The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the teacher. The lecturer will respond by stating whether the requested adaptations can be used. Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the call to allow the teacher to assess their content. In particular, in the case of concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline, there will be no technical time to make any changes. For further information on requesting services and adaptations, please refer to the document: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Essential history of Italian language. Sociolinguistic overview of contemporary Italian. Synthetic overview of the linguistic history of Italian theatre. Reading of Tasso's Aminta.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture notes (Teams); C. Marazzini, La lingua italiana. Profilo storico, Bologna, il Mulino; C. Giovanardi - P. Trifone, La lingua del teatro, Bologna, il Mulino (first part and four commented texts to choose in the second part); T. Tasso, Aminta, a cura di M. Corradini, Milano, BUR-Classici.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester

September 16, 2025

Second semester

February 17, 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.

Optional midterm written test (in January/February) on the first semester programme (linguistic history of Italian and traits of neo-standard Italian).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral examination of the skills relating to the linguistic history of Italian and to the traits of neo-standard Italian; oral examination of the skills on the linguistic history of Italian theatre; reading and commenting on a passage from Tasso's Aminta.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If needed, ask the professor for more information.