Linguistics

In this course we will study code-switching, the alternation between two or more languages (or two or more varieties of a language) within the same discourse. We will relate code-switching to both individual and societal multilingualism, investigate the phenomenon from a structural perspective as well from sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives, see how theories of code-switching have developed over time, and apply a variety of theoretical perspectives to the analysis of examples of code switching involving a variety of language pairs.

This course focuses on speech act theories, language behavior, context of speech in conversation, and transmission of meaning in regards to the grammatical and lexical knowledge of the listener and speaker. It considers how language acquires meaning in context and discusses formal models to explain how these meanings are conveyed between cooperative interlocutors. The course focuses on exploring a range of theoretical and experimental research on topics in pragmatics, applies these concepts to word learning, and introduces notable researchers who have made contributions to this area.

This course deals with the internal and external history of French. It examines how Latin was transformed to give birth to French and the deep grammatical characteristics that distinguish the two languages. The course also focuses on the survival of Latin as an intellectual language and the competition between Latin and French, particularly during the Renaissance. The history of spelling is also covered.

This course covers the organization and structure of English lexicon. It describes basic lexical and morphological concepts and introduces the structure of lexicon and the processes of word formation in English. Topics include: the structure of lexicon--kinds of words, lexeme, syntactic and semantic features, and lexical models; inflectional morphology--word forms, morpheme, morphosyntactic features, and syntactic and semantic implications; lexical morphology--word formation and syntactic and semantic implications. 

This course provides deepened insight into English grammar and the linguistic analysis of English. There is a focus on syntactic description, analysis and argumentation, and on the relationship between linguistic form and grammatical function. Particular attention is given to the forms and functions of the noun phrase and the verb phrase as well as to clause structure and information packaging.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrolment is by permission of the instructor. The global aim of this course is to provide students with an expert knowledge on the use of language and other semiotic systems in contemporary discourse. Including lectures and language classes, the course covers a number of aspects of English linguistics in order to develop a critical understanding of the relationship between discourse and society and to strengthen English language proficiency. Students are able to identify and describe metalinguistic factors and semiotic resources at play in discourse as they are provided with theoretical knowledge related to one or more of the following areas of English linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicology, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, stylistics, corpus linguistics, multimodality, and social semiotics. Theories and concepts are applied to samples of authentic texts (written and/or spoken, belonging to different registers), including the use of language and multimodal corpora as sources of examples. The course is divided into two modules. Module 1 aims at acquiring the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to master the relationship between language, cognition, and emotion within persuasive communication. Module 2 focuses on discourse as a social phenomenon.

This course provides an overview of major subfields in linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and historical linguistics. By the end of the course, students are expected to better understand key issues, methodologies, and data involved in modern linguistic theories, and how linguists approach the study of human language. 

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrolment is by permission of the instructor. This course focuses on the linguistic theory related to the coding of the linguistic message into sounds, particularly the fundamentals of articulatory/acoustic phonetics and segmental/suprasegmental phonology. In particular, students are able to analyze the phonetic and phonological aspects of a language or linguistic variety from different perspectives: synchronic, diachronic, sociolinguistic, and acquisitional. Students analyze phenomena of phonetic and phonological disruption in pathological speech; and set up autonomously theoretical and experimental research in the fields outlined above. Topics include: articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics, form and substance of the signifier; and the development of phonetic/phonological competence during childhood.