OVERVIEW

The course provides practical skills in Portuguese at the C1-C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The Theoretical Module prepares and leads to the translation of children's texts by Clarice Lispector (Brazil) and Eugénio de Andrade (Portugal), published in the 1960s.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The exercises will provide practical skills equal to level C1-C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference in the two main variants (European and Brazilian) of the Portuguese language. The Theoretical Module aims to investigate, from a diachronic and sociolinguistic perspective, the reasons for the diversification, within the same diasystem, of the European and Brazilian varieties of Portuguese. The linguistic-translational analysis of texts (literary and non-literary) will allow working on the lexical and morphosyntactic constants and differences between the two varieties.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. In the course of the Theoretical Module, we will proceed with the linguistic-translational analysis of the texts that the Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector and the Portuguese poet Eugénio de Andrade published in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through reading the stories, students will be enabled to

* Reinforce their knowledge of PB in comparison with PE, identifying convergences and main lexical and morphosyntactic discrepancies between the two main varieties of Portuguese;

* To develop the most appropriate translation tools for the transposition of texts belonging to the infanto-juvenil literary sub-genre;

* To apply, from the perspective of discourse analysis, critical tools useful for understanding in what ways and within what limits the proposed stories contribute, by addressing the taboos of sexuality, death and violence, to challenging the conceptions of childhood current at the time in which they were written;

* Analysing the relationship of the icon-text and paratexts with the written text.

2. The Practical Module aims at the consolidation of C1 CEFR levels. The grammatical and lexical structures of the Portuguese language will be deepened through readings, conversations, written work, oral presentations and exercises of different types.

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons of the Theoretical Module (30 hours, second semester) will be delivered in Italian and will be partly face-to-face and partly devoted to the linguistic analysis of the proposed texts and to translation-interpretation strategies. Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

The course of the Practical Module is annual and has a total of 120 hours.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Theoretical Module Programme.

Through the reading of some of Clarice Lispector's and Eugénio de Andrade's children's stories, we will proceed to translation, questioning critical issues related to discourse analysis, reception and collaboration or contradiction between written texts, paratexts and icon-texts.

Programme of the Practical Module.

In the grammatical area, the following will be addressed:

- Indicative / Conjunctive complete verbal system

- Simple and compound conjugated infinitive

- Use of the Gerund

- Derivative Verbs / Verb Regencies

- Reflexive Verbs

- Periphrastic Conjugation

- Personal Pronouns: atonal and tonic form

- Adverbs and Adverbial Locutions

- Prepositions and Prepositional Locutions

- Indirect Speech

- Passive Form

- Subordinate Propositions

- Conjunctions and Locutions

- Text Connectors.

For the lexical and communicative area, the following will be observed:

- Familiar / Professional / Social vocabulary

- Idiomatic Expressions / Sayings / Proverbs

- Exclamations and Interjections

- Prefixes and Suffixes / Diminutives

- Polysemous words: usage and meanings

- Homophones / Homographs / Homonyms / Paronyms

- Supporting / Opposing opinions

- Expressing feelings, desires, judgements

- Persuade / Advise / Argue

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Theoretical Module:

Eugénio de Andrade, História da égua branca, 1976.

Clarice Lispector, O Mistério do coelho pensante, 1967;

Clarice Lispector, A Mulher que matou os peixes, 1968.

Handouts, specialised essays and other material will be distributed in class by the lecturer and punctually uploaded on Aulaweb.

Practical module: study books to be determined.Various texts and audio-visual documents will be shared during the course and uploaded to Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

MT classes will begin in the second semester. Starting date, class schedule and classrooms will be announced as soon as they are available.

MP classes will begin in the first semester. Starting date, class schedule and classrooms will be announced as soon as they are available.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

MT, attending:

the final examination is oral and will take place on the dates scheduled in the calendar.

During the oral examination, based on open questions, the skills acquired and the ability to reason and link the various topics will be assessed. An extract of the translations made together in class will also be analysed in its linguistic and cultural components.

MT, non-attending:

non-attending students can arrange a substitute programme by writing to: virginiaclara.caporali@unige.it.  

Language exercises:

The lecture examination consists of a written test. It will only be possible to take the written test once per examination session. 

The examination includes:

* reading and comprehension of a written text;

* grammar exercises;

* use of the morphosyntactic structures learnt during the year;

* production of a paper.

Final grade:

The Theoretical Module and the Practical Module give two independent marks. The final grade (for a total of 9 CFU) will be the reasoned average of the two grades obtained.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written examination of Portuguese Language I will test the knowledge of grammatical rules and vocabulary, as well as the effective acquisition of skills related to written production and oral comprehension.

The oral examination for the theoretical module will test the acquisition of the topics covered during the course. It will also include a practical-theoretical question on the translations carried out in the classroom and the translation strategies applied.

The final grade is calculated as follows
50% (of the overall grade) for the written and oral practical part;
50% (of the overall grade) for the theoretical part.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a certified DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the lecturer (virginiaclara.caporali@unige.it) at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

Non-attending students are invited to contact the lecturer at virginiaclara.caporali@unige.it to agree on an alternative programme.

For course start dates and timetables, please visit the lecturer's page (V. Caporali) at https://rubrica.unige.it/personale/UkNFU1Jt.