Programme

From vernacular Latin to Contemporary Italian (72 hours; 12 ECTS).

Core Documentation

- Claudio Marazzini, La lingua italiana. Storia, testi, strumenti, 2. ed., Bologna, il Mulino, 2010.
- Paolo D’Achille, Breve grammatica storica dell’italiano. 3. ed., Roma, Carocci, 2019
- Paolo D’Achille, L’italiano contemporaneo, 4. ed., Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.

Type of delivery of the course

Taught class involving active participation on the part of the students. Lessons can be attended in person or remotely, according to the rules and procedures established by the University, but they will not be recorded. Attendance is recommended. The syllabus is the same for all students, regardless of whether they attend. L

Attendance

The course aims to describe the phenomena that characterized the transition from vernacular Latin to contemporary Italian in the fields of phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon, so as to allow students to achieve a good knowledge of the concepts and tools of analysis offered by historical grammar. The analysis of the birth and evolution of the vernacular will be accompanied by a historical-cultural and social contextualization: the salient moments of the history of Italian from the Origins to the contemporary age will be addressed, with particular attention to the progressive emergence of supra-local varieties and of a common Italian.

Type of evaluation

An oral exam at the end of the course. Students regularly attending the course have the opportunity to sit an interim assessment if they so wish The exam will focus on the material referred to under ‘Bibliography’ and on the topics dealt with during the course. The exam will assess: 1) the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the subject acquired; 2) command of the technical vocabulary; 3) the ability to bring together critically topics and issues dealt with during the course. Interim assessments will be available halfway and at the end of the course. They consist of a written questionnaire which will include both multiple-choice and open-ended questions.