CHINESE LANGUAGE 1 (I)

This course is one of the core educational activities of the Master Degree Programme in Languages and Civilizations of Asia and North Africa (Chinese). It aims at strengthening students’ abilities to translate into Italian from Chinese, and vice versa, as well as developing methodological tools for linguistic analysis and interlinguistic comparison. Students will thus be able to apply their language skills to understanding and interpreting the main social and cultural transformations that occurred in modern and contemporary China. Conversation courses have the purpose of guiding students in the acquisition of the ability to discuss issues related to Chinese society and culture in the context of the ongoing globalisation processes.

To achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level B2+ of the CEFR (Common European framework of reference for language proficiency). In particular:

1. Knowledge and understanding
- Becoming familiar with the basic linguistic terminology of translation
- Acquiring skills for the analysis of language and of its rhetorical devices, as well as understanding its use in specific social and cultural contexts.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Knowing how to perform linguistic analysis on different aspects of your mother tongue and of the Chinese language

3. Judgement skills
- Knowing how to formulate and defend hypotheses, while developing a critical approach to the evaluation of alternative hypotheses as well.

4. Communication skills
- Acquiring the ability to discuss issues concerning Chinese culture using appropriate terminology.
- Being able to communicate the specificities of linguistic and textual analysis using appropriate terminology.

5. Learning skills
• Knowing how to relate the different contexts of study and apply your knowledge and skills for personal and professional growth.

Having a good command of the Italian language and a Chinese language proficiency corresponding to the level B1+ of the CEFR (Common European Framework of reference for language proficiency).

The course develops the ability to understand, analyse and translate Chinese articles concerned with contemporary Chinese society and culture. Specifically, it is structured as follows:
- 30 hours of reading comprehension, linguistic analysis and translation of Chinese texts;
- 60 hours of conversation training (A);
- 60 hours of training in Italian-Chinese translation (B);
- conversation tutoring (C);
- translation tutoring (D);
- supplemental translation training (E).

Texts to be used during classes
• The Chinese texts that will be used during the translation (Chinese > Italian) classes will be available on the website https://moodle.unive.it/ in the section “[LM005I] LINGUA CINESE 1 MOD.1 - prof. G.F. Arcodia”.
• Ma Jianfei, Hanyu kouyu sucheng: Gaoji pian, Beijing Yuyan Daxue Chubanshe, Beijing, 1999 (units 1-4).
• Niu Guoqiang, Yi-Han fanyi jiaocheng. Dispensa di traduzione dall’italiano in cinese, Cafoscarina, Venezia 2005 (units 12-18; units 1-11 for training group E).

Suggested dictionaries
- Wenlin 3.x (www.wenlin.com) or later version.
- Pleco Software (for iPhone/iPad e Android), basic version available for free download from www.pleco.com; several add-ons available).
- Xinhua zidian, Beijing, Shangwu yinshuguan, 1971 or later edition.
- Casacchia G. and Bai Y., Dizionario Cinese-Italiano, Cafoscarina, Venezia, 2013.
- Han-ying da cidian - Chinese-English Dictionary, ed. by Wu Guanghua, Shanghai, Shanghai Jiaotong Daxue chubanshe, 1993 or later edition, 2 vols.

Further dictionaries for translation into Chinese:
- Dizionario cinese-italiano italiano-cinese, Hoepli, Milano, 2007
- Zhang Shi Hua, SFLEP Dizionario Conciso Italiano-Cinese Cinese-Italiano, Waiyu jiaoyu chubanshe, Shanghai 2006
- Dizionario italiano-cinese - Yi-han cidian, Beijing, Shangwu yinshuguan, 1985 e succ.

The verification of acquired abilities and skills is carried out through three tests:
- Reading comprehension and translation into Italian of a Chinese text dealing with cultural topics;
- Conversation in Chinese;
- Italian-Chinese translation of sentences containing complex grammatical structures.
In order to pass the exam the minimum score for each test is 6/10: the final mark is the sum of the marks obtained in the three tests.

Teaching is organized in:
a) translation classes;
b) writing and conversation practice aimed at building and consolidating the knowledge, skills and competences required to meet the goal of the course;
c) tutoring aimed at discussing and clarifying specific language problems that emerged during the classes.

Italian

written and oral