Ateneo - UPO

The integrated course consists of two teaching units
that aim to provide the student with the basic
notions of general and historical linguistics.
Teaching Unit Fondamentals of Linguistics:
Introduction to general Linguistics
Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics:
Introduction to Historical Linguistics

Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics:
R. Simone, Nuovi fondamenti di linguistica. Edizione
riveduta e corretta,
Milano, McGraw-Hiill, 2016 (All Book)
T. De Mauro, Linguistica elementare, Roma - Bari,
Laterza, rist. 2020
(Only: Appendice II, Indicazioni per le trascrizioni, e
Appendice III,
domande ed esercizi).
G. Berruto, Riflessioni sull'insegnamento della
linguistica oggi, in: A.
Sansò (a cura di), Insegnare Linguistica: basi
epistemologiche, metodi,
applicazioni, Milano, Officinaventuno, 2020, pp. 13-29.
Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics:
(1) Elisabetta Magni, Linguistica Storica, Patron Editore, Bologna, 2014; (2) Franco Fanciullo, Introduzione alla linguistica storica, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007 (only chapters 1, 6, 7); (3) Maria Napoli, (2019), Linguistica diacronica. La prospettiva tipologica. Collana Studi Superiori. Carocci, Roma (only chapter 1). (4) slides on DIR

The integrated course aims to enable the student to
acquire the basic theoretical foundations of general
and historical linguistics, necessary to analyze in
synchrony and diachrony the main dynamics of
language in general and of historical-natural
languages in particular, and, in a more advanced
way, to enable him to use the theoretical knowledge
acquired in an autonomous and appropriate way.
The measurement of these objectives will be
possible in the verification of learning.
Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics:
The first objective of the course is to provide the
student with the main
ones
linguistic notions necessary to correctly analyze the
language
in general and the languages taught in the CdS in
particular, both in
examples
provided in class and during the final test. A second
goal, more
advanced, is to place the student in a position to
apply independently
the notions and methodologies learned in linguistic
reasoning on data
theoretical and empirical related to classical
languages and to the main
modern European A
third objective is to prepare students for the teaching
of linguistics and knowing how to re-propose them with metalanguage
main notions.
Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics:
The first aim of this course is to introduce the study of Historical Linguistics, and to develop students’ knowledge of its main theoretical notions, methodologies and history, enabling them to analyze and understand the most important mechanisms which govern the development of languages. A further, more advanced, aim is to lead students to apply the notions and methodologies learned to a careful thought about data concerning different types of language change

Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics A:
To be able to successfully follow the course, a solid
basic competence in
Italian grammar and a strong and motivated interest in
languages, their history and their
structural and functional organization are required.
Teaching unit Historical Linguistics:
Basic knowledge of general linguistics is impoprtant and useful: however, attendance at the lectures of “Foundations of Linguistics" or "General Linguistics A" is not an obligatory prerequisite.

Lectures and online teaching (DIR). During the two
courses the active involvement of students is
expected to comment on data
linguistics and carry out exercises individually or in
groups, in the case of the Fondamentals of Linguistics module
aimed learning of: (a) phonetic transcription techniques; (b)
principles of morphological segmentation; (c)
syntactic analysis with tree diagrams; (d) linguistics
teaching methodologies; in the case of the Historical
Linguistics Glottology module, aimed at (a) applying
the comparative and reconstruction method; (b) the
analysis of different types of change

Anyone wishing to take the integrated exam as a single or external course will necessarily have to agree a personal program with both teachers.

Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics:
While preparing for the exam, students are advised
to try to solve the
exercises contained in the two manuals indicated.
For students who want
to consolidate their knowledge of Italian grammar it
is recommended to
use: P. Trifone - M. Palermo, Grammatica italiana di
base, Bologna,
Zanichelli, 2020, IV ed.; L. Sirianni, Italiano.
Grammatica, sintassi, dubbi,
Milano, Garzanti,

For both courses, the exam will be passed when the
grade is 18/30 or higher. The final assessment of
the integrated examination will take into account the
marks obtained in the individual tests of the two
teaching units of which it is composed and from the
evaluation of the overall degree of in-depth
knowledge, autonomy in their application and
specific communication skills, as specified by the
training objectives and expected learning outcomes.
ìIn particular:
Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics:
The exam will be written, will last 60 minutes and will be based on both
exercises and multiple choice or open questions, aimed at ascertaining
the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and the practical ability to
analyze and evaluate data in the various linguistics domains; each
correct answer will have a specific score and the exam will be successful
if the sum of 18/30 is reached or exceeded. Honors will be awarded on
the basis of the accuracy and appropriate metalinguistic processing of
the answers.
Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics:
The final exam is oral and takes approximately 30 minutes. Candidates will be expected to answer some questions, using appropriate scientific terminology. The exam is structured as follows, namely it is made up of 4 sections: Sec. 1) = questions on the basic principles of Historical Linguistics, and on methodological aspects of the discipline (e.g., origin of the comparative method, genealogical classification, branches of the Indo-European family, etc.); Section 2) = at least 1 question on linguistic typology (e.g., interaction between diachronic linguistics and typological approach); Section 3) = an exercise based on the reconstruction of an Indo-European root, demonstrating ability of applying the comparative method; Section 4) = analysis of at least 1 specific type of linguistic change, to be illustrated also through relevant examples. candidates are required to show knowledge of basic notions and understanding of comparative method and reconstruction. The final evaluation will be based on the following criteria: use of appropriate scientific terminology = 10%; answers to questions from Section 1) = 20%; answers to questions from Section 2) = 10%; exercise solution, Section 3) = 30%; analysis of change, Section 4) = 30%. Exams may be passed with a full grade (30/30) “cum laude” only if demonstrating accuracy and insight in answering.

Teaching Unit Fundamentals of Linguistics:
The module provides an introduction to linguistic disciplines and to
notions of language, sign, structure and linguistic functionality. They will be
deepened the levels of semiotics, phonetics and phonology analysis,
morphology, syntax, morphological and syntactic typology, pragmatics. Yup
they will make examples from different European and non-European languages, even from classical languages, and in particular from
Italian, English, French, Spanish and German.
Presentation of the course and discipline.
Codes and languages; semiotics of verbal codes.
Phonetics: general notions, the phonatory apparatus; IPA transcript; writing
and orality.
Phonology: phonemes, syllabic structure.
Morphology: morph, morpheme, allomorph, morpho borders.
Syntax: The notion of syntagma, typology of the sentence.
Fundamentals of grammar, categories and grammar functions.
Thematic structure and information structure.
Text and textuality.
Lexicon: semantic fields, taxonomies, frames.
Semantics and pragmatics.
The languages ​​of the world: genetic, areal, typological classification.
Didactic uses of linguisticsof language, sign, structure and linguistic functionality. The levels of
analysis of semiotics, phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax,
morphological and syntactic typology, pragmatics will be studied.
Examples will be made from various European and non-European
languages, in particular from Italian, English, French, Spanish and
German.
Presentation of the course and discipline.
Codes and languages; semiotics of verbal codes.
Phonetics: general notions, the phonatory apparatus; IPA transcript;
writing and orality.
Phonology: phonemes, syllabic structure.
Morphology: morpho, morpheme, allomorph, morpho borders.
Syntax: The notion of syntagma, typology of the sentence.
Fundamentals of grammar, categories and grammar functions.
Thematic structure and information structure.
Text and textuality. Lexicon: semantic fields, taxonomies, frames.
Semantics and pragmatics.
The languages of the world: genetic, areal, typological classification.
Didactic uses of linguistics.
Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics:
The main topics are:
• 1. Introduction: Historical Linguistics and the notion of language change.
• 2. Genealogical classification: comparative method.
• 3. The Indo-European family.
• 4. Typological classification: linguistic types and universals.
• 5. Phonetic and phonological change.
• 6. Reconstruction of Indo-European: phonetic laws.
• 7. Morphological change: analogy and grammaticalization.
• 8. Syntactic change and syntactic reconstruction.
• 9. Semantic change: causes and mechanisms.
• 10. Interlinguistics: language contact as a source of change.
• 11. Theoretical aspect.
• 12. The contribution of linguistic typology to diachrony. Conclusions

Teaching Unit Fondamentals of Linguistics.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Understand the theoretical basis of
the discipline, divided into its various levels (semiotics, phonetics,
phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, typology, pragmatics). •
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Knowing how to
recognize and analyze the phenomena and linguistic characteristics
presented theoretically in the linguistic utterances proposed in different
languages; be able to correctly perform at least two phonetic
transcriptions in IPA (international phonetic alphabet) of words, syntagms
and sentences also belonging to unknown languages, and at least one
morphological analysis and one syntactic-syntagmatic analysis of Italian
and non-Italian words and phrases; know how to recognize the
morphological and syntactic typology of a given language, even if it is
unknown. • AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT: Being able to recognize which
linguistic phenomena operate in the examples proposed. Knowing how to
deal with a linguistic analysis in an autonomous and reasoned way. •
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Knowing how to adequately express one's
knowledge of the discipline using the appropriate metalanguage. •
LEARNING SKILLS: Knowing how to consciously deepen the study of
general linguistics, addressing the critical reading of technical manuals.
Knowing how to teach the basics of general Linguistics.

Teaching Unit Historical Linguistics.
In order to achieve a basic level of knowledge and skills students are required to show what follows:
Knowledge and understanding:
- to show knowledge and understanding of theoretical principles and methods for Historical Linguistics;
- to show knowledge of discipline’s history in broad terms;
- to show knowledge of basic notions related to Typological Linguistics and understand their diachronic application;
- to show knowledge and understanding of at least the main types of language change.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to reconstruct an Indo-European root by applying the comparative method
and phonetic laws throughout a guided exercise;
- to be able to describe different types of language change by identifying the basic mechanisms and effects.
Autonomy of judgment:
- make a judgment about diachronic data.
Communicative skills:
- to use appropriate scientific terminology, which should be learned through the suggested manuals.
Learning ability:
- to join the study of abstract and theoretical notions to the empirical observation and interpretations of diachronic data from ancient and modern languages, at least in some domains of the discipline.
In order to achieve an advanced level, students are required to show what follows:
Knowledge and understanding:
- to show extensive knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods and notions listed above (not at a basic level).
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to reconstruct an Indo-European root autonomously, by applying the comparative method and phonetic laws;
- to be able to identify and describe different types of language change in depth, also by means of a correct and wide exemplification.
Autonomy of judgment:
- to achieve detailed assessment of diachronic linguistic data and to evaluate autonomously different forms of language change including their specific mechanisms and (multiple) effects.
Communicative skills:
- to make an exclusive and consistent use of appropriate scientific terminology.
Learning ability:
- to join the study of abstract and theoretical notions to the empirical observation and interpretations of diachronic data from ancient and modern languages, in all the domains of the discipline.