GENERAL LINGUISTICS (JAPAN AND KOREA)

This course is among the ones that characterize the Japan and Korea curricula within the degree programme "Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".
The course will provide students with the basics of general linguistics, and aims at easing comprehension of the topics of Japanese and Korean grammar that the students will encounter during their BA studies, yet without overtly addressing any grammar topic of these two languages.

Upon completion of the course, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
- Knowledge of the fundamentals of the main branches of linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics) and of how they are interrelated;
- Basic concepts of sociolinguistics, contact linguistics, historical linguistics and language endangerment, with particular reference to the approaches and linguistic processes necessary for a deeper understanding of these disciplines in the Korean and Japanese contexts;
- Ability to approach linguistic data, including those from completely unfamiliar languages, and to analyze it critically using the correct discipline-specific terminology, as well as the ability to independently identify linguistic patterns, idiosyncrasies, and peculiarities;
- Ability to communicate one’s knowledge and reflections clearly and appropriately, using an appropriate vocabulary;
- Ability to critically evaluate and personally reinterpret texts and the critical bibliography.

This course has no requirements.

Following an introduction to the field of linguistics and its objectives, the first part of the course will focus on the study of its main branches – phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. At the end of each of these lessons, analysis exercises will be assigned to put into practice what was covered in class. These exercises are intended to prepare students for the final exam and, at the end of the course, two lessons will be dedicated to their correction and discussion.
In the second part of the course, we will focus on certain branches of linguistics applied to other sciences, always paying attention to topics most relevant to the future study of the Korean and Japanese languages – historical linguistics and contact linguistics (with particular reference to theories on the genealogical affiliation of Korean and Japanese and to the common features within the Altaic Sprachbund), sociolinguistics (difference between language and dialect, linguistic variation and diversity, with particular reference to register), and endangered languages (minority linguistic varieties, including both languages and dialects, in Korea and Japan and their differences from the standard language, as well as their vitality and preservation in the contemporary social context).

Graffi, Giorgio e Scalise, Sergio. 2024. "Le lingue e il linguaggio - Introduzione alla linguistica", fourth edition. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Genetti, Carol (ed.). 2016. "How languages work – An introduction to language and linguistics", fourth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (capitoli 9, 11 and 13).
Other materials will be distributed during classes.

The final exam for this course consists of a 120-minute written test.
The test will be divided into three sections containing different types of questions, each worth a maximum of 10 points:
• Section 1: 10 questions, including 2 short-answer questions and 8 multiple-choice questions;
• Part 2: 3 analysis exercises, similar to those assigned as homework during the semester;
• Part 3: 2 open-ended questions requiring long answers.
The exam will be considered passed only if a passing grade is achieved in each of the three parts, i.e., with at least 60% of correct answers, corresponding to 6 out of 10 points.

written

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.

Range 18-22: sufficient knowledge and comprehension with regard to the course program
Range 23-26: good knowledge and comprehension with regard to the course program
Range 27-30: very good or excellent knowledge and comprehension with regard to the course program
Honors will be assigned in case of very good or excellent knowledge and comprehension with regard to the course program, and excellent communication skills.

Taught class. Students' active participation is expected.