Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to General Linguistics and Historical Linguistics.

(1) Berruto Gaetano & Massimo Cerruti, La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo, UTET/De Agostini, Novara, 2022, III edition (with the exception of chapter 7); (2) Berruto Gaetano, Riflessioni sull’insegnamento della linguistica oggi, in A. Sansò (eds.i), Insegnare linguistica: basi epistemologiche, metodi, applicazioni, Atti del LIII Congresso della Società di Linguistica Italiana, Università dell’Insubria, 19-21 settembre 2019. Officina 21, Milano, 2020: pp. 13-29. (https://www.societadilinguisticaitaliana.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/002_Berruto_Atti_SLI_LIII_Insubria.pdf) (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). Slides on DIR are part of the programme.

The first aim of the course is to introduce the study of the basic principles of General Linguistics and Historical Linguistics (including the most significant moments in their history), enabling students to understand and analyze the fundamental properties of human language within a synchronic approach, the methodologies used to describe linguistic structures at different levels (mainly, phonetic-phonological, morphological, semantic and syntactic), the most important mechanisms governing language change with special regard to the Indo-European family. A further, more advanced, aim is to develop students’ personal ability to assess, compare and interpret linguistic material by applying learned concepts and methodologies to the empirical observation of data, from a both synchronic and diachronic perspective.

Students are not required to attend preliminary courses. Basic scholastic knowledge of Italian grammar is the only prerequisite.

Lectures and “Web didactic” (DIR). Students will be required to actively
participate in discussions about linguistic data and to solve exercises concerning: (a) phonetic
transcription; (b) morphological parsing; (c) syntactic analysis through tree diagrams; (d) didactic teaching strategies; (e) the application of the comparative method; (f) the analysis of different types of language change.

Solving the exercises at the end of the chapters of the handbook of General Linguistics is highly recommended (other exercises are available online). Also the following volume of exercises may be used for this purpose: Luraghi Silvia & Anna Thornton, Linguistica generale: esercitazioni e autoverifica, Carocci Editore, Roma, 2004.

Two different assessment methods are scheduled.

General Linguistics 1:
Learning will be assessed through written examination, measuring both knowledge of theoretical notions and ability to analyze and assess empirical data in different linguistic areas. The exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of 15 multiple-choice questions and open questions, corresponding to the following thematic sections: Sect. 1) = fundamental notions; Sect. 2 = phonetics, phonology, IPA transcription; Sect. 3 = morphology; Sect. 4 = semantics; Sect. 5 = syntax; Sect. 6 = didactic methodologies.

Each question corresponds to 2 points: the exam will be passed successfully if the final grade is equal to or higher than 18/30. Exams may be passed with a full grade (30/30) “cum laude”
only on the basis of the two following criteria (applied to open
questions): (i) accuracy and insight in answering; (ii) use of appropriate scientific terminology.
If online examination is required, this will be oral, following the same criteria as written examination.

Historical Linguistics 1:
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.

The exam will be passed successfully if the final grade is equal to or higher than 18/30. In order to achieve 18/30, 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%.

There will be an overall evaluation which will take the respective final grades into account and will be based on the assessment of the whole degree of insightfulness of knowledge and of the degree of autonomy in applying it.

General Linguistics 1:
1. Introduction to General Linguistics. Discipline’s
history and main theoretical approaches.
2. Properties of human language, methods of analysis and basic notions.
3. Phonetics and phonology.
4. IPA transcription.
5. Morphology: the notion of ‘word’; parsing rules in morphological
analysis; derivational and inflectional morphology.
6. Syntactic analysis and principles of Generative Grammar.
7. Semantics.
8. Didactic methods for teaching General Linguistics.

Historical Linguistics 1:
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 the Indo-European phonetic system: 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.

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 the fundamental properties of human language and of at least the main types of language change;
- to show knowledge and understanding of basic principles and methods for analyzing languages from a synchronic and diachronic perspective in various areas (namely, phonetics and phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax);
- to show knowledge of discipline’s history and its main theoretical approaches at the most basic level;
- to show knowledge of preliminary principles of synchronic comparison (in particular, the typological one) and diachronic comparison;
- show knowledge of the most important didactic methods for teaching General Linguistics.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to use IPA phonetic transcription for Italian and to apply parsing rules in morphological analysis of Italian words;
- to be able to analyze Italian sentences from a syntactic point of view through tree diagrams (at a basic level);
- 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.
- to be able to project simple teaching activities concerning General Linguistics.

Autonomy of judgment:
to make a judgment about synchronic and diachronic data.

Communicative skills:
to use appropriate scientific terminology that should be learned through the suggested manuals.

Learning ability:
- to join the study of theoretical notions and methodologies to the empirical observation of synchronic data taken from Italian and 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 apply knowledge and understanding (as described above) in depth, and mainly: to be able to identify principles determining forms and functions of diverse linguistic structures (from the phoneme to the sentence); 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 synchronic and diachronic linguistic data;
- to analyze and compare linguistic structures with regard to the different domains of the discipline;
- to evaluate autonomously different forms of language change including their specific mechanisms and effects.
Communicative skills:
to make an exclusive and consistent use of appropriate scientific terminology.

Learning ability:
to join the study of theoretical notions and methodologies to the empirical observation of data taken from different languages, in all the domains of the discipline.