OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION TO THE GERMAN LANGUAGE - PHONOLOGY AND PHONETICS, MORPHOSYNTAX, CULTURAL STUDIES

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide a theoretical reflection on linguistic phenomena from a contrastive German-Italian perspective. It includes practical exercises, conducted by native German and Italian language instructors, aimed at the practical learning of the German language.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

General aims: German language skills on A2 level.

Competence in metalinguistic reflection regarding phonetics, phonology, morphosyntax of German language as well as translational skills.

- Learning target of the class is to reach the A2 level described in the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) in German language to have a good command of the phonetics / phonology of German language

- at the end of the class students will be able to understand written and oral texts in German language as well as to write and to speak as far as is requested for the A2 level of  CEFR (see above)

- As a result of class, students will furthermore be able to operate phonetic and phonological analysis of German lexis and be familiar with phonetic and phonological transcription

- Learning objective of the class is moreover the acquisition of basic knowledge about morphosyntax of the German language.

- Learning objective of the class is furthermore to get familiar with basic translational skills regarding translation from German into Italian and from Italian into German.

- At the end of the class students will have essential knowledge about cultural aspects (geography, history, politics) of German speaking countries.

PREREQUISITES

none

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lectures (36 lessons, 1st semester) will be accompanied during the whole academic year by practical language exercises (beginners: 160 lessons, advanced: 160 lessons). Time schedules, programs, instructors and auditoriums will be published on the website “Lingua e traduzione tedesca 1 – TTMI” in Aulaweb and on the websites of the single instructors until the end of September 2026. The language exercises include yearlong grammar lessons for beginners and advanced learners.

Lecture accompanied by language exercises.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the theory class students will familiarize with fundamental knowledge about German language and German linguistics. After a general survey about the most important aspects of German phonetics / phonology and morphosyntax, translational skills and lexicology will be treated, considering the linguistic terminology also in German language. The linguistic structures of the German language will be explained by examples of various textual typologies. Furthermore, the program includes a short overview of cultural aspects of German speaking countries (geography, history, politics).

The program of the course is valid until February 2028 in accordance to the departmental regulation.

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

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Theory class

Di Meola, Claudio: La linguistica tedesca, Roma: Bulzoni, 2014.

Giacoma, Luisa/Kolb,Susanne: Il nuovo dizionario di tedesco. Dizionario tedesco-italiano, italiano-tedesco. Con Contenuto digitale (fornito elettronicamente), Bologna: Zanichelli, 2019.

Koesters-Gensini, Sabine E.: Fonetica e fonologia del tedesco, Bari: Graphis, 2007.

Donalies, Elke: Basiswissen deutsche Wortbildung, Stuttgart: Francke/UTB, 2011.

Nied Curcio, Martina: La lingua tedesca. Aspetti linguistici tra contrastività e interculturalità, Roma: UniversItalia, 2016.

Nied Curcio, Martina: La lingua tedesca. Aspetti linguistici tra contrastività e interculturalità, Roma: UniversItalia, 2016.

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

Applied module

Teaching materials will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Applied modules:

Beginners: end of September 2026

Advanced: end of September 2026

Theoretical module: end of September 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examinations at the end of each module and during subsequent examination sessions will cover the specific topics addressed during the course. The practical component includes a final written examination and an oral examination. During the examination of the theoretical module, students’ knowledge of the course content will be assessed. In addition to mastery of the course material, the evaluation will also take into account the candidate’s familiarity with the readings assigned during the lectures and with the materials made available on the AulaWeb platform.

Theory class: written exam (40% of the final mark)

Language exercises:

written exam

oral exam

(average of the marks of the exercise exams: 60% of the final mark)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In the written exam of the theory class students will have to prove their ability to apply the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for the German language. Furthermore, they will give evidence of their knowledge of the basics of German phonetics / phonology and morphology in order to be able to analyze the structure of linguistic elements such as phones, phonemes, morphemes and words. Moreover, basic knowledge about cultural aspects of German speaking countries will be examined. Assessment criteria are the correctness and completeness of the answers as well as the correct usage of linguistic terminology both in German and in Italian.

The written exam of the language exercises is designated to give proof of the knowledge of German language on A2 level regarding reading comprehension and written skills as well as the familiarity with basic grammar and orthography. Assessment criteria are grammatical and orthographic correctness, the ability to express oneself appropriately in a written exam as well as to understand a written text both globally and in detail. The oral exam is meant to examine the competence to understand listening exercises and to use the foreign language appropriately in a dialogue. Assessment criteria are the correct usage and interpretation of grammatical rules and vocabulary as far as requested for attaining the A2 level.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group:

The exam is obligatory for students in the first year of the course of studies in Theories and techniques of language mediation.

Credits:

The total exam consisting in theory class and language exercises is equivalent to 12 credit points (CFU).

Language:

Lessons will be held in Italian and (according to the language level of the participants) in German language.

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.

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.