This course will provide a methodological framework for the discipline as well as an overview of the phonological, morphological and syntactical aspects of contemporary Italian, illustrating the relationship between rules and usage.
- Adriano Colombo e Giorgio Graffi, "Capire la grammatica", Roma, Carocci.
- Alvise Andreose, "Nuove grammatiche dell'italiano", Roma, Carocci.
- Gaetano Berruto e Massimo Cerruti, "La linguistica: un corso introduttivo", Torino, UTET (capitolo IV: Sintassi; pp. 131-182).
- Roberta Cella, "Grammatica per la scuola", in "Storia dell'italiano scritto. IV. Grammatiche", a cura di Giuseppe Antonelli, Matteo Motolese, e Lorenzo Tomasin, Roma, Carocci (capitolo 3; pp. 97-140).
- Simone Fornara, “Breve storia della Grammatica Italiana”, Roma, Carocci.
Consulting
- Luca Serianni, “L’Italiano”, Milano Garzanti (1° ed.: Luca Serianni, “Grammatica italiana. Italiano comune e lingua letteraria”, Torino, UTET).
For foreign students:
- Giuseppe Patota, "Grammatica di riferimento dell’italiano contemporaneo", Novara, De Agostini Scuola-Garzanti linguistica
Materials mentioned in lectures and published on the Moodle platform are an integral part of the bibliography.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge
This course aims to provide basic knowledge of Italian grammar and tools for its study.
Skills
- Basic knowledge of the structures of the Italian language and main approaches to metalinguistic thought;
- Acquisition of certain basic concepts and specific terminology used in Italian grammar and linguistics;
- Knowledge of the main bibliographical and computer tools for studying this discipline.
Behaviour
- Encouragement to make intelligent use of the university structure and course, as well as orientation and academic career management tools;
- Encouragement to participate intellectually and benefit from a proper approach to the student-professor relationship;
- Encouragement to share and make responsible use of the study resources provided by the course and faculty.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Lectures are frontal; they include partial use of computer tools and a basic demonstration of how they work.
Further information
Students are reminded that attendance at two thirds of the lectures is compulsory. Only part-time students who do not attend lectures are eligible for alternative examination procedures. These students must contact the professor at the beginning of the course to establish a specific study plan.
Type of Assessment
The final exam is oral for all students, even those who do not attend lectures and exchange students (Erasmus and other programmes). Before the test, students must perform a grammatical analysis on a complex sentence in order to demonstrate their knowledge of grammar. They are then asked four questions on the following specific parts of the course: 1) methodological introduction and tools; 2) history of grammar; 3) phonology; 4) morphology and syntax. The four specific parts may also be evaluated with one or two complex questions that cover all the areas. During the test, students may be asked to analyse materials discussed at lectures and made available through the e-learning platform.
Students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge in all parts to pass the exam.
The marks obtained in the various parts are totalled to yield the final mark.
The exam is designed to test:
- Knowledge of the relationship between rules and usage in contemporary Italian;
- Knowledge of the grammatical structures of Italian (phonology, morphology, syntax);
- Knowledge of the history of Italian grammar;
- Ability to use the terminology of the discipline appropriately.
Course program
This course provides: an introductory overview of contemporary Italian and its different varieties; a brief outline of the history of grammar which culminates in a synopsis of the current methodological framework for studying the structure of Italian; a systematic examination of the tools for studying Italian.
The main physical and articulatory aspects of the Italian phonological system are presented, with particular attention to its relationship with the graphic system; finally, several morphological, syntactical and textual aspects are addressed, with an emphasis on the relationship between rules and usage, standard and neostandard language.