Ateneo - UPO

The course Language and Cognition (60 hours, 12 ECTS) delves into the fundamental principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, and their application to the description and analysis of linguistic phenomena from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives.

For Cognitive Linguistics 2° level

For students who attend the course:
1) Croft, W. and D. A. Cruse (2010). Linguistica cognitiva (edited by S. Luraghi). Roma: Carocci (chapters 6 and 7 excluded).
2) Luraghi, S. and L. Gaeta (2003, eds.). Introduzione alla linguistica cognitiva. Roma: Carocci (chapters 7 and 8 only).
3) Any other content that will be uploaded on the platform DIR.
Non-attending students shall study, in addition to the material indicated above, also:
1) Bazzanella, C. (2014). Linguistica cognitiva. Un’introduzione. Bari-Roma: Laterza (pages 3–41 only).
2) Luraghi, S. and L. Gaeta (2003, eds.). Introduzione alla linguistica cognitiva. Roma: Carocci (a choice of one chapter among chapters 6, 9, 10, or 11).

For General Linguistics 2° level:
1) Arcodia, G. F. and A. Panunzi (2023, eds.). Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio. Milano: Pearson (chapters from 1 to 10).
2) Course materials that will be uploaded on the DIR platform.

The aim of the integrated course at a basic level is to provide students with the following knowledge, competences and skills:
- Knowledge of the most important principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, as well as of the factors, including cognitive mechanisms, that contribute to explaining linguistic forms and structures at different levels of analysis (phonetic/phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and lexical) and that play a role in language change;
- Ability to apply the methodologies and theoretical notions acquired in the fields of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics to the description and analysis of specific linguistic phenomena (also providing formal representations where appropriate), from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives;
- Good command of specialist terminology and ability to communicate the acquired notions clearly and in a well-structured manner.

The aim of the course at a more advanced level is to provide students with the following knowledge, competences and skills:
- In-depth knowledge of the main theoretical and methodological tools of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, as well as of their relevance for the analysis of different linguistic levels;
- Ability to grasp the relationship between the structure and internal organisation of languages, the processes of change affecting them, and the cognitive mechanisms influencing them at different levels;
- Ability to interpret and analyse linguistic data in light of this relationship, highlighting the strengths and limitations of different approaches and using specialist terminology rigorously.

These learning objectives are consistent with those established for the Degree Programme, as outlined in the SUA-CdS.
The course corresponds to a total of 12 ECTS credits. Each of the two 6-ECTS courses that make up this integrated course includes the following distribution of credits: 1.5 ECTS credits for lectures and interactive teaching activities (in person); 4.5 ECTS credits for self-study activities. For non-attending students, the 6 ECTS credits of each of the two courses consist entirely of self-study activities.

No prior knowledge in linguistics is required.

The course mainly consists of lectures, integrated with guided discussions and analysis of case studies. During the course of Cognitive Linguistics, practical activities involving the use of online resources for the exploration of the semantic and conceptual dimensions of language, as well as seminar activities, are planned. Study support materials, including all slides projected during lectures, will also be made available on the DIR platform. These materials, together with the reference bibliography, are necessary to prepare for the exam (for both attending and non-attending students).

The choice of this course is reserved for students enrolled in Master's degree programs who have never previously taken an exam in General or Historical Linguistics in their academic career.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office 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, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Both courses that make up the integrated course include an oral exam lasting approximately 30–40 minutes, aimed at assessing the acquisition of the knowledge included among the learning objectives and expected learning outcomes, as well as the use of appropriate scientific terminology. The final grade will result from the marks obtained in the two examinations and will also take into account the overall level of knowledge, competences and skills acquired by students.

Both examinations adopt the following criteria for grade assessment

A score between 18 and 22 will be awarded to students who demonstrate:
- sufficient knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics;
- sufficient ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data from either a synchronic or diachronic perspective;
- sufficient autonomy of judgement in formulating well-grounded observations on linguistic data and in identifying the potential and limitations of different theories and disciplinary approaches;
- sufficient clarity of presentation, with the adoption of the appropriate specialist terminology.

A score between 23 and 26 will be awarded to students who demonstrate:
- satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics;
- satisfactory ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data from either a synchronic or diachronic perspective;
- satisfactory autonomy of judgement in formulating well-grounded observations on linguistic data and in identifying the potential and limitations of different theories and disciplinary approaches;
- satisfactory clarity of presentation, with the adoption of the appropriate specialist terminology.

A score between 27 and 30 will be awarded to students who demonstrate:
- good or excellent knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics;
- good or excellent ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of linguistic data from either a synchronic or diachronic perspective;
- good or excellent autonomy of judgement in formulating well-grounded observations on linguistic data and in identifying the potential and limitations of different theories and disciplinary approaches;
- good or excellent clarity of presentation, with the adoption of the appropriate specialist terminology.

The final grade of 30 cum laude will be awarded for demonstrating a very in-depth understanding of all topics discussed during the exam, along with full mastery of the discipline’s terminology.

Further information for Cognitive Linguistics II Level
During the exam, at least one question will require students to discuss a specific case study in which the cognitive approach is applied either to the investigation of linguistic situations from the past or to the analysis of linguistic change.
The final grade will be based on: mastery of fundamental concepts (50%); ability to apply acquired knowledge to describe or analyze concrete linguistic phenomena (35%); use of scientific terminology when presenting arguments (15%).

Further information for Foundations of General Linguistics 2° level
During the oral exam, students will be asked questions on the main theoretical topics of the course. They will also be required to apply the knowledge and methodologies acquired to the analysis of linguistic data through exercises in phonetic/phonological transcription, morphological and syntactic analysis, and the discussion of a case of linguistic change.
The final grade will be based on: mastery of the fundamental concepts of the subject (45%), ability to apply acquired knowledge to the description and analysis of concrete linguistic data or phenomena (45%), clarity of exposition and use of scientific terminology (10%).

The integrated course addresses several topics of central relevance within General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics. Specifically, the General Linguistics 2° level course will begin with an introduction to General Linguistics, in which the history of the discipline will be briefly outlined and the fundamental notions of linguistics will be presented. Subsequently, the course will focus on the different levels of linguistic analysis, and in particular: (i) segmental and suprasegmental phonetics, phonology, phonetic/phonological transcription with the IPA alphabet; (ii) morphology, the principles of word segmentation and word formation processes, and an overview of morphological typology; (iii) syntax, immediate constituent analysis and the construction of tree diagrams, and an overview of syntactic typology. Finally, the course will address the main types of change affecting the phonetic/phonological, morphological, and syntactic levels, through the presentation and discussion of specific case studies; the main causes of linguistic change will also be described.
The Cognitive Linguistics II level course, after a brief history of the discipline, will focus on the fundamental principles of Cognitive Linguistics. Some fundamental notions will be introduced, such as frame and prototype, and the essential elements underlying the processes of categorization and conceptualization of experience. The contribution and limitations of the cognitive approach (with particular attention to embodied approaches) to the analysis of lexical semantics will be illustrated and discussed. In this area, ample space will be dedicated above all to metaphor as a fundamental mechanism for the conceptualization of reality and its role in language. During the second part of the course, through the analysis of specific case studies, it will also be shown how some fundamental assumptions of Cognitive Linguistics can be profitably applied to the investigation of past linguistic situations and the analysis of phenomena of linguistic change. Some useful resources for exploring the semantic and cognitive dimension of language (e.g. FrameNet) will be presented and used during the lessons.

In order to achieve the knowledge, competences and skills corresponding to a basic level, at the end of the course students will be expected to demonstrate the following:
- Knowledge and understanding: having acquired a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, with particular reference to the main levels of linguistic analysis (phonetic/phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and lexical), to the fundamental cognitive mechanisms influencing language, and to the main phenomena of linguistic variation and change;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: being able to describe and analyse linguistic data and phenomena with sufficient autonomy, from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives, applying the theoretical notions and methodological tools acquired;
- Making autonomous judgements: being able to formulate observations on the linguistic data analysed and discuss, with sufficient autonomy, the strengths and limitations of the main theories and different disciplinary approaches on the basis of the knowledge acquired;
- Communication skills: being able to present and discuss the main concepts of the discipline in a sufficiently clear and structured manner, using specialist terminology appropriately;
- Learning skills: being able to use the knowledge and methodological tools acquired autonomously in order to further explore the topics covered and analyse linguistic data other than those already known.

To achieve an advanced level, students will be expected to demonstrate the following:
- Knowledge and understanding: having acquired an in-depth knowledge of the principles of General Linguistics and Cognitive Linguistics, with particular reference to the main levels of linguistic analysis (phonetic/phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and lexical), to the cognitive mechanisms influencing language, and to the main phenomena of linguistic variation and change;
- Applying knowledge and understanding: having developed the ability to apply the notions acquired in the two modules to the description and analysis of linguistic phenomena, considering linguistic data from different perspectives and critically integrating synchronic and diachronic dimensions;
- Making autonomous judgements: being able to formulate observations on the linguistic data analysed with full autonomy and a developed critical awareness, discussing the strengths and limitations of the main theories and different disciplinary approaches on the basis of the knowledge acquired;
- Communication skills: being able to present and discuss the main concepts of the discipline clearly and in a structured manner, demonstrating full command of specialist terminology;
- Learning skills: being able to use autonomously the knowledge and methodological tools acquired to further explore the topics studied and analyse linguistic data, including data other than those discussed in class or in the reference texts.

These learning objectives are consistent with those of the Degree Programme, as outlined in the SUA-CdS.