Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to general Linguistics

R. Simone, Nuovi fondamenti di linguistica. Seconda edizione,
Milano, McGraw-Hiill, 2024 (all Book)
T. De Mauro, Linguistica elementare, Roma - Bari, Laterza, rist. 2020
(Only: Appendice II, Indicazioni per le trascrizioni).

The first objective of the course is to provide the student with the main
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, more advanced
objective is to enable the student to independently apply the notions and
methodologies learned to linguistic reasoning on theoretical and
empirical data connected to the main modern European languages. A
third objective is to prepare students for linguistics teaching and to be
able to re-propose the main notions with the appropriate metalanguage

To be able to successfully follow the course, a solid basic competence in
Italian language and grammar and a motivated interest in languages and
their structural and functional organization are required

Lectures and online teaching (DIR); the material in DIR is, however, only
and exclusively an aid and does NOT in any way replace the texts
indicated in the programme bibliography. During the course, students
may be
actively involved in commenting on linguistic data and carrying out
exercises individually or in groups, aimed at learning: (a) phonetic
transcription techniques; (b) principles of morphological segmentation;
(c) parsing with tree diagrams; (d) linguistics teaching methodo

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, 2012; useful: S. Luraghi - A. M. Thornton, Linguistica generale: esercitazioni e autoverifica, Roma, Carocci, 2004 e sgg.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse
e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, must refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the modalities of examination
at least 15 days before; some of these must be approved by docent.

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 and not divisible 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. According to art. 35 of the University Teaching Regulations, the student can take the same exam no more than three times in an academic year.

The module provides an introduction to linguistic disciplines and notions
of 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.

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