Programme

The course aims to define the notion of “dialect” and its relevance in the (socio-)linguistic Italian context; it will provide a picture of the different Italian dialect areas, including minority languages, and of their features at different levels of linguistic analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon); it will consider the occurrences and uses of dialects in oral and written contexts, including literary texts; it will illustrate the main dialect atlases and dictionaries currently available. At the end of the course the student will be in the position to evaluate and position correctly within the Italo-Romance landscape a written or oral dialect text.

Core Documentation

- Francesco Avolio, Lingue e dialetti d’Italia, Roma, Carocci, 2009.

- Carla Marcato, Dialetto, dialetti e italiano, 2. ed., Bologna, il Mulino, 2007.

Type of delivery of the course

Taught course involving active participation on the part of the students.

Attendance

Attendance is recommended. The syllabus is the same for all students, regardless of whether they attend.

Type of evaluation

An oral exam at the end of the course. Students regularly attending the course have the opportunity to sit interim assessments 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.

Programme

The course aims to define the notion of “dialect” and its relevance in the (socio-)linguistic Italian context; it will provide a picture of the different Italian dialect areas, including minority languages, and of their features at different levels of linguistic analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon); it will consider the occurrences and uses of dialects in oral and written contexts, including literary texts; it will illustrate the main dialect atlases and dictionaries currently available. At the end of the course the student will be in the position to evaluate and position correctly within the Italo-Romance landscape a written or oral dialect text.

Core Documentation

- Francesco Avolio, Lingue e dialetti d’Italia, Roma, Carocci, 2009.

- Carla Marcato, Dialetto, dialetti e italiano, 2. ed., Bologna, il Mulino, 2007.

Type of delivery of the course

Taught course involving active participation on the part of the students.

Attendance

Attendance is recommended. The syllabus is the same for all students, regardless of whether they attend.

Type of evaluation

An oral exam at the end of the course. Students regularly attending the course have the opportunity to sit interim assessments 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.