BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The students will be able to attain a comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical and methodological basic principles underlying the scientific study of the world’s languages and vernaculars. Such knowledge represents the first step toward the development of the linguistic competencies required in order to analyze, interpret, and produce different types of written and oral texts.
Course Prerequisites
No prior knowledge is required.
Teaching Methods
The course is taught with frontal lessons, but students will be encouraged to use their questions to guide the teaching process and to appreciate the possibility of applying theoretical notions to analyze the reality surrounding them. Students are warmly recommended to download from the e-learning area of the course a PDF file containing some exercises focusing on applied principles. The exercises will be discussed during the lessons, and exercise keys will be available (on the same e-learning area) for non-attending students as well.
By accessing the e-learning area of the course, students will be able to download the slides and the didactic materials commented on during the lessons.
Assessment Methods
The assessment takes place either in written or spoken form. As far as the contents are concerned, the above-mentioned assessment forms are equivalent. In four out of eight exam sessions, the assessment will be in written form (usually in the June, July, and September exam sessions), whereas in the remaining four sessions of the exam will be in oral form. Students are invited to choose the assessment form that best suits them and their needs. The final mark, leading to the acquisition of 12 university credits, can be either accepted or rejected by the student, but does not entail any other assessment test. The grade is expressed on a scale from 18 to 30, where 18 is the minimum passing grade. Achieving a 30 is considered excellent. Both the written and oral exams involve theoretical questions and exercises similar to those discussed during the training practice hours mentioned in the previous paragraph.
The written test, lasting 90 minutes, will be composed of 15 questions; each answer will be assigned from 0 to 2 points. After each text, a PDF file named Solution will be available on the e-learning page of the course, containing an example of the answers expected by the Students.
To pass the entire course of General Linguistics (code 24327) is necessary to pass both the Basic Linguistics test (MOD 1) and the Sociolinguistics and Dialectology test (MOD 2) in the same exam session.
Yet, in January-February 2025, an intermediate test concerning the basic principles of Linguistics (MOD 1) will be available to all students. This written test will be composed of 10 questions and exercises. Each correct answer will earn 3 points. The mark obtained in this test will contribute to the final mark for the entire course (entailing the acquisition of 12 cfu) and will be valid only for the current academic year (i.e., until March 2026).
Contents
The course aims to provide basic knowledge and understanding of the interface between human languages and the historical, cultural, and social context surrounding them. The main topics discussed during the course include basic principles and notions of phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, genealogical and typological classification of the world’s languages, language typology, language variation and change.
Online Resources
More information
1) NON ATTENDING STUDENTS are not required to study any additional text, but they are expected to download and study all the slides and the teaching materials available in the e-learning section.
2) ALL THE STUDENTS having difficulties in fully grasping phonetic / phonology concepts are advised to consult the following (optional) volume: MATURI PIETRO, 2006, I suoni delle lingue, i suoni dell’italiano, Bologna, Il Mulino.
3) ERASMUS students are invited to contact the teacher to arrange their exam schedule. Students with special needs are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the lessons.
4) ALL THE STUDENTS are expected to regularly visit the e-learning area of the course to download the EXERCISES (whose SOLUTIONS are available on the same page), focusing on the basic principles of Linguistics. ALL THE STUDENTS are warmly recommended to visit the webpage www.pandoracampus.it and access the PER CHI STUDIA [Students] area, where a few additional exercises (with keys) and materials can be downloaded free of charge.