OVERVIEW

This course provides students with a foundation in the scientific study of human language and natural languages. After an introduction to the properties of human language, we will analyse the main levels of linguistic description: the phonetic and phonological level, the morphological level, the syntactic level and the semantic level. Next, we will focus on historical linguistic topics, ranging from the genealogical classification of languages to the analysis of various cases of language change. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will provide students with basic theoretical and methodological notions for the description and interpretation of the linguistic data and phenomena they will deal with in the course of their studies. More specifically, the first part of the course (general linguistics) aims to familiarize students with key concepts in linguistics (e.g. language, languages, linguistic sign), and to provide the conceptual and terminological means needed to study language at the various levels of linguistic analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics). The second part of the course (historical linguistics) aims to introduce basic notions concerning language change and the genealogical and typological classification of world languages. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the basics of general linguistics and historical linguistics and the essential tools for the synchronic and diachronic analysis of languages, as well as an introductory presentation on the origin of Indo-European and European languages. Some assumptions of typological linguistics and sociolinguistics are also briefly presented in the treatment of some case studies.

At the end of this course, the student will:

• Gain an understanding of the main characterizing properties of human language and of natural languages.
• Gain the essential knowledge needed to analyse languages at the phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic level, and master the appropriate terminology. Moreover, the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data.
• Know the main ways in which languages can be classified.
• Know the main linguistic families and subfamilies, especially those of the of the Indo-European family (genealogical classification)
• Know the main criteria that are used to classify languages based on structural resemblances and differences (typological classification).
• Know introductory notions of historical linguistics, especially those discussed during the course. Moreover, the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data, commenting cases of language change based on those discussed during the classes.
• Be acquainted with the main subdisciplines of linguistics, in particular with those introduced and discussed during the course.
• At an operational level, the student will be able to carry out a phonetic and phonological transcription of Italian words, to establish whether two words constitute a minimal pair, to break down into morphemes, classifying them on a functional basis, derivative and compound words of Italian, and to carry out the analysis in immediate constituents of an Italian sentence by means of a tree diagram. They will also be able to place the main ancient Indo-European languages in time and space and will be able to classify genealogically and typologically the languages currently spoken in Europe, including non-Indo-European languages, and the Indo-European languages spoken outside Europe.

PREREQUISITES

This is an introductory course: no prior knowledge of linguistics is therefore expected from students.

TEACHING METHODS

This course will include lectures as well as exercises on the most technical aspects of the discipline (e.g., phonetic transcription, morphological and syntactic analysis). 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The first part of the course consists of an introduction to general linguistics. More specifically:

The notions of “language” and “linguistic sign”.

Phonetics and phonology (linguistic sounds): articulatory phonetics, phonetic transcription; the notions of phoneme, allophone, and minimal pair 

Morphology (words and their internal structure): the notions of word, morpheme, allomorph; morphological processes of derivation and composition; morphological analysis of words

Syntax: structure of phrases and sentences, with a focus on the essential structure of the nuclear sentence and its representation through analysis into immediate constituents

The second part of the course focuses on language classification and language change. More specifically:

Synchrony vs diachrony. 

Genealogical classification, focusing on the Indo-European family. 

Language change, with examples from Indo-European languages.

Typological classification, focusing on morphological and syntactic typology.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Gaetano Berruto e Massimo Cerruti 2017. La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino: UTET. (Chapters 5 and 8 excluded)
• Slides and lecture notes

Additional optional texts:

• Elisabetta Magni. 2014. Linguistica storica. Bologna: Patron
• Nicola Grandi. 2003. Fondamenti di tipologia linguistica. Roma: Carocci.
• Nicola Grandi & Francesca Masini (a cura di). 2017. Tutto ciò che hai sempre voluto sapere sul linguaggio e sulle lingue. Cesena: Caissa.
• Maria Napoli. 2019. Linguistica diacronica. La prospettiva tipologica. Roma: Carocci.

This programme, including the materials uploaded to AulaWeb, also applies to non-attending students. Please note, however, that attendance is strongly recommended as many lectures are devoted to exercises, which are essential for exam preparation.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester, starting the week of September 29, 2025.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test. The exam will include:

1)Exercises (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax) (in October and November, space is dedicated to these exercises; there will also be a mock test at the end of the course that will further clarify the structure of the test, the assessment criteria and the marks assigned to each exercise and question

2) A classification exercise on the languages of Europe

3) Open questions to verify knowledge of the general and historical linguistic topics addressed during classes and in the textbooks.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam assesses the level of theoretical knowledge achieved by the student, and the ability to apply it to the analysis of the linguistic data. The evaluation is based on the correct completion of the exercises and, especially as concerns open questions, on expressive clarity and mastery of the linguistic terminology.

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.