ID:
501291
Duration (hours):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
GLOTTOLOGIA E LINGUISTICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic theoretical notions and methodological tools for the scientific study of language. At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze sentences at different levels (phonological, morphosyntactic, semantic, and pragmatic ones) and will gain an overview of the ways in which languages change over time and of the variation in the world’s languages. This basic knowledge will enable students to pursue further study in the fields of linguistics, ancient and modern languages, language history, and philology.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites. However, a basic knowledge is assumed of grammar concerning parts of speech and constituent structure of sentences.
Teaching Methods
Lectures with slides
Exercises
Visits to linguistics labs
Exercises
Visits to linguistics labs
Assessment Methods
Oral exam with theoretical questions and practical exercises to be completed on the spot.
All course topics will be assessed with a theoretical question and/or an exercise.
All oral exams begin with a question on a topic chosen by the student.
The duration of the oral exam is variable and depends on the progression of the exam itself.
All course topics will be assessed with a theoretical question and/or an exercise.
All oral exams begin with a question on a topic chosen by the student.
The duration of the oral exam is variable and depends on the progression of the exam itself.
Texts
During lectures, slides will be projected (which will then be made available on KIRO), containing a detailed description of all the topics covered, with the relevant references.
The exam is based on these slides, in combination with selected sections/chapters from the following textbooks (the relevant parts will be pointed out during classes):
S. Luraghi, Introduzione alla linguistica storica, 2. edizione, Carocci, 2016
F. Strik Lievers, La linguistica e le lingue, Roma, Carocci, 2020
For exercise sessions:
S. Luraghi, A. M. Thornton, La linguistica generale: esercitazioni e autoverifica. Roma, Carocci, 2004
S. Luraghi, F. Venier, Esercizi di semantica e pragmatica. Roma, Carocci 2009
Further references, materials and exercises may be pointed out during classes.
The exam is based on these slides, in combination with selected sections/chapters from the following textbooks (the relevant parts will be pointed out during classes):
S. Luraghi, Introduzione alla linguistica storica, 2. edizione, Carocci, 2016
F. Strik Lievers, La linguistica e le lingue, Roma, Carocci, 2020
For exercise sessions:
S. Luraghi, A. M. Thornton, La linguistica generale: esercitazioni e autoverifica. Roma, Carocci, 2004
S. Luraghi, F. Venier, Esercizi di semantica e pragmatica. Roma, Carocci 2009
Further references, materials and exercises may be pointed out during classes.
Contents
The course will begin with a general introduction to linguistics with notions related to the following contents: constitutive properties of human verbal language; origin of language; genetic, anatomical and neurophysiological aspects of language; classification of the world's languages; main approaches to the scientific study of language (formalists and functionalists).
Next, the course will examine the various language levels. We will begin by analyzing the relationship between linguistic expressions and the concrete circumstances in which they are used, i.e., the field of pragmatics: we will deal with the notions of direct and indirect language acts, performative acts, interpretative processes of the implicit contents, deixis, anaphora. Then, we will move on to deal with the production and function of language sounds (phonetics and phonology), with special attention to the phonological systems of Italian, Latin and Ancient Greek. We will also describe the main processes of change affecting the sounds of languages, again paying special attention to the systems of the three languages just mentioned.
This course has its natural continuation in the Glottologia-B course.
The course is primarily addressed to students who have chosen the curriculum in Classics.
Next, the course will examine the various language levels. We will begin by analyzing the relationship between linguistic expressions and the concrete circumstances in which they are used, i.e., the field of pragmatics: we will deal with the notions of direct and indirect language acts, performative acts, interpretative processes of the implicit contents, deixis, anaphora. Then, we will move on to deal with the production and function of language sounds (phonetics and phonology), with special attention to the phonological systems of Italian, Latin and Ancient Greek. We will also describe the main processes of change affecting the sounds of languages, again paying special attention to the systems of the three languages just mentioned.
This course has its natural continuation in the Glottologia-B course.
The course is primarily addressed to students who have chosen the curriculum in Classics.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Group tutoring will be provided. Tutoring sessions are aimed to performe exercises similar to those of the oral test, to further discuss specific topics or to
clarify certain topics already dealt with during the regular classes. Tutoring sessions will be also held after the end of the classes, throughout the whole academic year.
clarify certain topics already dealt with during the regular classes. Tutoring sessions will be also held after the end of the classes, throughout the whole academic year.
Degrees
Degrees
HUMANITIES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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