The LM Course on “Information Structure” falls within the domain of the Complementary learning activities of the MA Degree Course in Modern Languages for International Communication and, specifically, within those activities that are aimed at delving into and enhancing the competences acquired in the linguistic field of analysis. The Course has the aim of providing: advanced reflection on some theoretical and methodological issues concerning, on the one hand, linguistic analysis (with particular reference to information structure, discourse categories and interface analysis) and, on the other, comparative and typological studies in Italy and abroad, thus addressing students towards novel and original paths of research, in a comparative perspective, for individual investigation on information-structural issues. Expected learning outcomes: The students will acquire deep knowledge and advanced competences on the theoretical aspects and the methodological tools which are necessary for the interface analysis of information structure phenomena; they will have a wide knowledge of the relevant international literature and will be able to elaborate individual and original research paths.
teacher profile teaching materials
In particular, research projects may focus on the following areas of investigation (to be defined according to interests emerging during class work):
(1) The interpretation and realisation of different types of Focus (informative, corrective, contrastive, exclusive, mirative), taking into account their semantic, syntactic and prosodic properties.
(2) The interpretation and realisation of different types of Topic, the creation of topical chains and the interpretation of the null subject in a comparison between pro-drop (such as Italian or Spanish) and non-pro-drop (such as English, French or German) languages on the curriculum.
(3) The interpretation and realisation of implicatures (presuppositions, implicatures, vagueness, opinion mining in social networks) and their realisation in political discourse and advertising.
Puglielli, Annarita e Mara Frascarelli. 2008. L’analisi Linguistica. Dai dati alla teoria. Roma/Cesena: Caissa Editore (Capitoli scelti).
Further readings (articles):
- Frascarelli, Mara (2007). Subjects, Topics and the Interpretation of Referential pro. An interface approach to the linking of (null) pronouns. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, 25, 4: 691-734
- Frascarelli, Mara & Viviana Masia. 2025. Dispense sul corso per Attività Altre "Tratti linguistici della comunicazione manipolatoria: una sperimentazione didattica".
- Frascarelli, Mara (2017). Dislocations and Framings. In Elisabeth Stark and Andreas Dufter (eds.) Manual of Romance Morphosyntax and Syntax, 472-501. (Manuals of Romance Linguistics). Berlin: Mouton.
Additional material can be defined during the course. Any additions will be reported on the Moodle platform.
Programme
The course aims to analyse, from a formal perspective but without necessarily delving into the technicalities of theory, the relationship between syntax, prosody, semantics and discourse grammar, and to provide skills relevant to scientific research, through the analysis of corpus data and the design of original experiments to be conducted with informants (native speakers of the language chosen for analysis), for the collection of data to be subsequently analysed (both morphosyntactically and prosodically).In particular, research projects may focus on the following areas of investigation (to be defined according to interests emerging during class work):
(1) The interpretation and realisation of different types of Focus (informative, corrective, contrastive, exclusive, mirative), taking into account their semantic, syntactic and prosodic properties.
(2) The interpretation and realisation of different types of Topic, the creation of topical chains and the interpretation of the null subject in a comparison between pro-drop (such as Italian or Spanish) and non-pro-drop (such as English, French or German) languages on the curriculum.
(3) The interpretation and realisation of implicatures (presuppositions, implicatures, vagueness, opinion mining in social networks) and their realisation in political discourse and advertising.
Core Documentation
Textbook:Puglielli, Annarita e Mara Frascarelli. 2008. L’analisi Linguistica. Dai dati alla teoria. Roma/Cesena: Caissa Editore (Capitoli scelti).
Further readings (articles):
- Frascarelli, Mara (2007). Subjects, Topics and the Interpretation of Referential pro. An interface approach to the linking of (null) pronouns. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, 25, 4: 691-734
- Frascarelli, Mara & Viviana Masia. 2025. Dispense sul corso per Attività Altre "Tratti linguistici della comunicazione manipolatoria: una sperimentazione didattica".
- Frascarelli, Mara (2017). Dislocations and Framings. In Elisabeth Stark and Andreas Dufter (eds.) Manual of Romance Morphosyntax and Syntax, 472-501. (Manuals of Romance Linguistics). Berlin: Mouton.
Additional material can be defined during the course. Any additions will be reported on the Moodle platform.
Reference Bibliography
Chomsky, Noam (1986), Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use, New York, Praeger. Frascarelli, Mara (2000). The Syntax-Phonology Interface in Focus and Topic Constructions in Italian. Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 50. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Rizzi, Luigi (1997), The Fine Structure of the Left Periphery, in Haegeman, Liliane (a cura di), Elements of Grammar. Handbook in Generative Syntax, Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 281-337.Attendance
Attendance is strongly recommended. There is no specific programme for non-attending students, who are invited to contact the lecturers for any clarification.Type of evaluation
Assessment is based on work carried out throughout the course, including practical exercises and discussions on the topics covered. Towards the end of the course, there will be a written assessment covering the theoretical part of the syllabus, as well as the preparation of an experimental or literature review dissertation (maximum 15 pages) on one of the phenomena covered during the course (to be chosen by the student). The dissertation will be assessed and discussed orally on the day of the exam.