B004660 - NORDIC LANGUAGES 1 (12 CFU)

Italian

Basic grammar structures of the chosen language (either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish). Communicative skills up to A2 level of the European Language Portfolio. Introduction to the history and the comparative study of the Nordic languages.

M. Ciaravolo, Lineamenti di storia della Scandinavia (Word file written by the professor).
M. Ciaravolo, “La comprensione interscandinava nella didattica”, Culture, 20 (2007), pp. 161-173.
Lars Vikør, The Nordic Languages, Oslo, Novus Press, 2001, pp. 9-64, 80-153, 184-201, 206-214, 224-236.

AIMS OF THE COURSE: Learning the basic grammar structures and communicative skills of the chosen language up to A2 level of the European Language Portfolio is the common aim for Nordic Languages (Norwegian or Swedish) at the first year. As well as this, an outline of the history and culture of the North and an introduction to the comparative study of the Scandinavian languages are given.

PREREQUISITES: No previous knowledge of a Nordic Language is required, and the courses are open to absolute beginners. It is necessary to have good reading skills in English, so as to be able to study Vikør’s text.

TEACHING METHODS: In the classes with the language lector, the structure of the chosen Nordic language is studied: phonetics, spelling, basic aspects of morphology and syntax, vocabulary and phrases. In the classes with the professor the students of Norwegian and Swedish are gathered. Initially, a historical outline is given of the linguistic, social and political development, and of the mutual Nordic relations through the centuries from the Viking ages to nowadays. Later, a more practical linguistic practice is proposed, by which some patterns in the “system” of relations among the three strictly related Nordic languages, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish are illustrated. Comparative exercises will deal with phonetics, morphology and vocabulary.

MORE INFORMATION: A student who chooses to take Norwegian or Swedish will attend a course officially called Nordic Languages. The respective language lectors offer 40 hours per semester (two double hours a week), while the professor offers 30 hours. The student must choose one Nordic Language and go on with it.

HOW THE EXAMINATION TAKES PLACE: The examinations consist of written and oral tests, organized and evaluated by the language lectors. The examination concerning the part with the professor is a written test about the last, more practical part of the syllabus (exercises of inter-Scandinavian comprehension) plus an oral part about the history of culture, society and language in the North. The final mark is determined for two thirds by the results in the language tests with the lectors and for one third by the result of the written test plus the oral part with the professor.

THE WHOLE SYLLABUS
Learning the basic grammar structures and communicative skills of the chosen language up to A2 level of the European Language Portfolio is the common aim for Nordic Languages (Norwegian or Swedish) at the first year. As well as this, an outline of the history and culture of the North and an introduction to the comparative study of the Scandinavian languages are given. PREREQUISITES: No previous knowledge of a Nordic Language is required, and the courses are open to absolute beginners. It is necessary to have good reading skills in English, so as to be able to study Vikør’s text. TEACHING METHODS: In the classes with the language lector, the structure of the chosen Nordic language is studied: phonetics, spelling, basic aspects of morphology and syntax, vocabulary and phrases. In the classes with the professor the students of Norwegian and Swedish are gathered. Initially, a historical outline is given of the linguistic, social and political development, and of the mutual Nordic relations through the centuries from the Viking ages to nowadays. Later, a more practical linguistic practice is proposed, by which some patterns in the “system” of relations among the three strictly related Nordic languages, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish are illustrated. Comparative exercises will deal with phonetics, morphology and vocabulary. MORE INFORMATION: A student who chooses to take Norwegian or Swedish will attend a course officially called Nordic Languages. The respective language lectors offer 40 hours per semester (two double hours a week), while the professor offers 30 hours. The student must choose one Nordic Language and go on with it. HOW THE EXAMINATION TAKES PLACE: The examinations consist of written and oral tests, organized and evaluated by the language lectors. The examination concerning the part with the professor is a written test about the last, more practical part of the syllabus (exercises of inter-Scandinavian comprehension) plus an oral part about the history of culture, society and language in the North. The final mark is determined for two thirds by the results in the language tests with the lectors and for one third by the result of the written test plus the oral part with the professor.

References
M. Ciaravolo, Lineamenti di storia della Scandinavia (word document written by the professor).
M. Ciaravolo, “La comprensione interscandinava nella didattica”, Culture, 20 (2007), pp. 161-173.
Lars Vikør, The Nordic Languages, Oslo, Novus Press, 2001, pp. 9-64, 80-153, 184-201, 206-214, 224-236.