Faculty of language and natural languages.
Main linguistic domains: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. Language and the brain. Language acquisition.
G. Basile, F. Casadei, L. Lorenzetti, G. Schirru, A.M. Thornton, "Linguistica generale", Roma, Carocci, 2010.
G. Graffi, S. Scalise, "Le lingue e il linguaggio", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2013(3).
Further readings:
S. Aglioti, F. Fabbro, "Neuropsicologia del linguaggio", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006.
C. Cacciari, "Psicologia del linguaggio", Il Mulino, Bologna, 2011.
G. Denes, "Parlare con la testa", Bologna, Zanichelli, 2009.
A. Marini, "Fondamenti di neurolinguistica", Roma, Carocci, 2008.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge of the basic elements of linguistics and of its levels of analysis: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Italian grammar.
Teaching Methods
Class lessons.
Further information
The slides of the course will be available.
Type of Assessment
Oral examination.
Course program
Theoretical Foundations: communicative signals; language faculty and natural languages; written and spoken language.
Phonetics and phonology : the sounds of speech; phonetic transcription; vowels and consonants; phonology; phonological features and processes.
Morphology and lexicon: words, morphemes and inflection; morphological typology; word formation; grammatical categories and parts of speech.
Syntax: constituents and structure; the sentence: grammatical functions and thematic roles; subordinate clauses.
Semantics and pragmatics: perspectives on the lexical meaning; lexical relations; semantic features; linguistic categorization; speech acts; the Gricean model.
Language and the brain; language acquisition; pathologies of language.