OVERVIEW

 The linguistic module aims at presenting the diacronic development of the Scandinavian languages in a comparative perspective.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Building on the skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree, the course aims at teaching the students how to use the Swedish language in advanced contexts. In order to to this, the course is divided into two parts: a one-semester linguistics module and a two-semester practical language module.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The theoretical module of the course aims to present the diachronic development of the Scandinavian languages from their common Germanic origin, through the Old and Middle periods, up to the present day. By the end of this module, students will be able to understand short texts in Mainland Scandinavian languages other than Swedish and to explain, in its main features, the historical reasons behind the contemporary Scandinavian linguistic landscape.

The language practice sessions are designed to help students progress from CEFR level B2 to C1 in both written and spoken production, as well as in written and spoken comprehension. By the end of the course, students will have attained a level of proficiency in Swedish that enables them to understand a wide range of long and complex texts, recognizing both explicit and implicit meaning; to use the language flexibly and effectively for social, professional, and academic purposes; and to produce clear, well-structured texts, demonstrating confident command of textual organization, cohesive devices, and linking expressions.

PREREQUISITES

B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in Swedish

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be taught in presence. Multimedia materials will be available on the Aulaweb platform. The students who are not able to attend classes should contact the teachers

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The theoretical module consists of a presentation of the diachronic development of the Scandinavian languages: issues of periodization in the Scandinavian languages; Proto-Scandinavian; Common Scandinavian; Old Scandinavian; Icelandic (Middle and Modern); Faroese; Swedish (Middle and Modern); Norwegian (Middle and Modern, Bokmål and Nynorsk); Danish (Middle and Modern); and the similarities and differences among the Mainland Scandinavian languages.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Course materials will be available on the Aulaweb platform. Moreover, language classes will be based on the following book:

Vendela Bromström - Jeanna Wennerberg, Akademiskt läsande och skrivande, Studentlitteratur, 2021, ISBN: 9789144151045

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes begin during the first week of the semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The practlcal course is assessed through a written exam constituted by reading, listening and the writing of an argumentative essay. A monolingual dictionary can be used during this part of the exam. Speaking skills are assessed in a oral conversation on current themes and events.

The theoretical module is assessed in an oral exam - in either Italian or Swedish according to the candidate's preference - on the topics of the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment for the theoretical module consists of an oral examination designed to evaluate students' knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course. Students will also be assessed on their ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis of linguistic variation and language change in the Scandinavian languages, with particular emphasis on reconstructing the historical development of the individual languages and identifying their main similarities and differences.

Candidates will be asked at least one question on each of the main topics covered in the course, with particular reference to the different stages in the history of the Scandinavian languages, issues of periodization, the development of the North Germanic languages from their common Germanic origin to their modern varieties, and the main characteristics of the contemporary Scandinavian languages. Candidates may also be asked to read and comment on short texts in Mainland Scandinavian languages other than Swedish, in order to assess their ability to understand their essential features and identify their main linguistic characteristics.

In assessing students' performance, consideration will be given not only to their knowledge and understanding of the course content (including lectures and the prescribed bibliography), but also to their ability to establish critical connections between different processes of language change, to use the specialist terminology of historical linguistics and Germanic philology appropriately, and to present their arguments clearly and effectively.

Assessment is expressed on a scale of 30 points according to the following criteria for the minimum and maximum grades:

18/30: Basic but partial knowledge of the course content, with a limited understanding of the main processes in the historical development of the Scandinavian languages and occasional inaccuracies in the use of specialist terminology. Presentation is adequate but not always coherent or well organised.

30/30: Thorough knowledge of the course content, accurate understanding of the diachronic development of the Scandinavian languages and their historical relationships, ability to analyse and contextualise the main linguistic phenomena, and appropriate use of specialist terminology. Presentation is clear, precise, and well structured.

30 with honours (30 e lode): Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the course content, outstanding ability to relate and critically discuss different processes of language change, full command of specialist terminology, and the ability to understand and comment on short texts in Mainland Scandinavian languages. Presentation is exceptionally rigorous, effective, and insightful.

The final grade for the course will be calculated as the average of the grade awarded for the theoretical module and the grade obtained in the written and oral language examination.

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.