PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS I

The course is part of the basic educational activities of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Humanities, common to both curricula (Antiquity; Science of the Literary Text and Communication), and of the related or supplementary educational activities of the degree programme in History for the curricula History – from European Hegemony to Globalisation and History – The Mediterranean World from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The course aims to foster critical reflection on language and to provide students with basic methodological tools for linguistic analysis and cross-linguistic comparison. Particular attention is given to semiotic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic aspects.

1)Knowledge and understanding
Acquire basic linguistic terminology and understand texts that employ it.
Understand the properties of different linguistic components and their interaction.
2) Application of knowledge and understanding
Use linguistic terminology accurately in the application and communication of acquired knowledge.
Perform basic linguistic analysis of one’s native language and identify analogous phenomena in other languages within the student’s competence.
3) Critical thinking
Formulate and justify simple hypotheses while developing an awareness of alternative perspectives.
Demonstrate the ability to engage in critical reasoning.
4) Communication skills
Express linguistic concepts clearly using appropriate terminology.
Communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions effectively.
Engage with instructors and peers.
5) Learning skills
Take effective notes during lectures
Critically consult reference texts and their bibliographies.

General cultural competencies corresponding to those expected of a secondary school diploma, as specified in the admission requirements for the Bachelor’s degree programmes in Humanities and History.
Foreign students are required to have a good command of Italian.

The course is designed as an introduction to reflection on language, providing students with foundational concepts in semiotics, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It will also offer an overview of the history of linguistics.

Required text: G. Berruto, M. Cerruti, La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo, Torino, UTET, 2017 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).

Assessment consists of an oral examination based on three questions, through which students are expected to demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge of the topics covered during the course, they are able to discuss them using appropriate terminology and in a formal manner and they have developed the ability to reflect independently on linguistic phenomena.
For students enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Humanities, the study plan includes a total of 12 ECTS credits. Therefore, assessment also covers the contents of the course Foundations of Linguistics II.
Students taking the 12-ECTS course may either sit a single final oral examination covering the entire programme or take advantage of an in-course written test covering the contents of the first module of the course. This test will be offered on two occasions, respectively after the fifth and the tenth week of classes. The written test will consist of a combination of open-ended and closed-ended questions covering the topics addressed during the first five weeks of classes.
Passing the written test exempts students from the contents of the first module and allows them to take the final oral examination only on the remaining part of the programme.
Students who choose not to take the written test, or who do not pass it on either of the two occasions, may sit the final oral examination on the entire programme during any of the examination sessions scheduled throughout the academic year.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

28–30 with distinction: Excellent command of the topics covered in lectures and the textbook; appropriate use of technical terminology; outstanding ability to engage in independent reflection on linguistic phenomena.

26–27: Good knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and the textbook; generally correct use of technical terminology; good ability to engage in independent reflection on linguistic phenomena.

24–25: Fair knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and the textbook; occasional inaccuracies in the use of technical terminology; reasonable ability to engage in independent reflection on linguistic phenomena.

22–23: Partially superficial and/or incomplete knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and the textbook; presentation not always clear and/or lacking in technical terminology; sufficient ability to engage in independent reflection on linguistic phenomena.

18–21: Incomplete but sufficient knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and the textbook; unclear presentation and/or deficiencies in technical terminology; weak but acceptable ability to engage in independent reflection on linguistic phenomena.

Lectures with active student-instructor interaction encouraged.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development