Language and Ideology (Christine Richardson) 1st semester An investigation of the ways in which linguistic forms and choices in a variety of non-literary text types can communicate and perpetuate ideologies. Assessment by means of attendance and a short final paper.
North American Language Varieties (John Gilbert) 2nd semester Details available on the Moodle page Laboratorio di Lingua e Traduzione Inglese B029173 ) 2019-20 before the beginning of the 2nd semester. Assessment by test.
The principal reference texts for the Lectures with Christine Richardson are: Fowler, Hodge, Kress & Trew, Language and Control, (Routledge, 1979); Fowler, Language in the News: Language and Ideology in the Press (Routledge, 1991); Fairclough, Language and Power, 2nd edn. (Pearson, 2001); Thomas et al, Language, Society and Power, 2nd edn. (Routledge, 2004); Mooney et al, The Language, Society & Power Reader (Routledge, 2011).
The reference texts for the lettorato modules are given in the Extended Programme section.
Learning Objectives
The Lectures and the 'lettorato' modules consolidate and extend academically oriented language skills at the level of B2/C1 of the CEFR, in order to assist the students in becoming competent participatory members of the academic community. In addition, familiarity with the cultural context of Anglophone countries is fostered by the content of the courses in order to demonstrate the essential reciprocal link between language and culture.
Prerequisites
There is no admission test, but students not in possession of evidence of this level will have to take an internal B2 level test in order to complete the course.
Teaching Methods
The Lectures with the 'titolari' follow the conventional university lecture style while the 'lettorato' lessons are held in small groups and involve a more active participation on the part of students. There may be work in groups or pairs, discussion, presentations research projects.
Further information
Attendance at at least two thirds of the lessons is required according to the University regulations. While for students who register for the part-time course of study it is possible to have a non-attender programme for the Lectures with the 'titolari', attendance at the 'lettorato' remains compulsory, as specified in the regulations of the Corso di laurea.
Type of Assessment
For the Lectures with the titolari, a short individual research paper related to the content of the Lectures, to be written in English, and a test forms the Assessment. For the 'lettorato' modules, assessment depends on the individual 'lettorato', but will be continuous assessment or continuous assessment with end-of-course written or oral exam, in English. Details available on Moodle and in the Programma esteso section. The overall mark for the Laboratorio di Lingua e Traduzione Inglese is in the form of ‘idoneità’, taking into account the results of the 'lettorato' modules (given out of 30) and the paper and test written for the Lectures
Course program
In order to achieve the 6 credits for the course, students are required to:
attend Lectures with Christine Richardson (1st Semester) and with John Gilbert (2nd Semester);
present (an acceptable) short research paper written in English for the Lectures followed with Christine Richardson and pass a test for the Lectures followed with John Gilbert;
attend and complete the work for, including the final assessment, four semesters of 'lettorato' modules;
pass the internal B2 level language test, if not already in possession of certification of this level.
Students are required to attend four semesters of ‘lettorato’ modules which they usually do by choosing two modules in the 1st semester and two modules in the 2nd semester.
The following modules of ‘lettorato’ are available for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Narrative Translation, Italian-English (John Gilbert) - thìs two-semester module involves the translation of narrative Italian texts into English. Particular attention is given to contrastive grammatical analysis, issues of lexical choice, dictionary usage, questions of style, and the concepts of equivalence and cultural untranslatability. The texts for translation and selected theoretical works are made available by the teacher. Assessment is by means of continuous assessment with weekly translations, tutorials and end-of-semester written tests.
Textual Transformation (Elizabeth Sainsbury) - The 2 modules focus on the reading and analysis of a variety of texts with discussion of possible text type conversion for public presentation. Work in class begins with a careful phonological and linguistic analysis of the texts and a discussion of the themes and techniques used, in order to maintain the particular characteristics of each in a public reading.
In preparing texts for presentation, attention is given to clear diction, the expressive potential of the voice and body but also to the use of music, image and film. The students prepare individual projects at home which are then developed with group work in class. Great importance is given to discussion skills, teamwork and the ability to give constructive criticism to fellow students. Short written reports outline the aims and results of each project.
At the end of each semester, the students are given the task of organising a public reading, which involves drawing up a programme and publicising the event to other students. They are also asked to hand in a final written paper or a journal which maps the progress made over the whole semester.
The material is made available in two booklets.
This course aims to refine the students’ critical abilities in analysing different texts, develop their sensitivity to the expressive and performative potential of the material, perfect their speaking and writing skills and improve their practical abilities in organising work groups and events. These aims are achieved through group work in class, oral presentations and the writing of reports which assess progress on the projects undertaken.
Translation for Tourism (Christine Richardson) – this one-semester module (held in the 1st semester) covers the problems of translation between English and Italian from both a linguistic and a cultural point of view. Particular emphasis is placed on the possible manipulations and strategies required with respect to maintaining or modifying the relationship between text and reader according to the constraints of both the target culture and the conventions and reader expectations for this type of text in both English and Italian. A series of texts will be analysed, translated and revised during the course. The nature of the module will be learning by doing and group discussion of variants. Initial individual texts will be edited following collective discussion, enabling students to consider how their own work relates to alternative solutions. Students should gain skills in recognition of conventional lexis, tone, formulaic phrases for tourism in both languages and develop practical competence in translating tourist materiels between the two languages.
Final assessment will be made up from the texts translated during the module along with a written translation under exam. conditions at the end of the module. Material is available in form of dispense and will be supplemented during lessons.
Translation English-Italian (Christine Richardson) – this one-semester module (held in the 2nd semester) covers the problems of translation between English and Italian from both a linguistic and a cultural point of view. Particular emphasis is placed on the possible manipulations and strategies required with respect to maintaining or modifying the relationship between text and reader according to the constraints of both the target culture and the intended function of the translated text. A series of texts will be analysed, translated and revised during the course, and readings will be given with respect to topics and theories of translation. The nature of the module will be learning by doing and group discussion of variants. Initial individual texts will be edited following collective discussion, enabling students to consider how their own work relates to alternative solutions.
Final assessment will be made up from the texts translated during the module along with a written translation under exam. conditions at the end of the module. Material is available in form of dispense and will be supplemented during lessons.
Advanced Spoken English: Regional Varieities of the UK (Christine Richardson) – this one-semester module (held in the 1st semester) looks at spoken English from both the active and the passive point of view. It starts from a rapied review of the phonemes (RP) and intonation of Standard English, including practical exercises in pronunciation and reading aloud, to then look in more detail at the Englishes used in the constituent countires of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and also Eire, as well as regional varieties such as Estuary English, Geordie, Brummie, Scouse, Manchester English, West Country English. The aim of the module is to lead students to a high level of competence both in their individual oral production and in their understanding of regional non-standard varieties of English.
The principal reference texts are P. Roach, English Phonetics and Phonology (Cambridge: CUP 4th edn. 2009) e A. Hughes, P. Trudgill & D. Watt, English Accents & Dialects (Abingdon: Routledge 5th edn. 2013).
Final assessment will be based on work completed during the module and a written test at the end of the module.
Advanced Spoken English: World Englishes (Christine Richardson) – this one-semester module (held in the 2nd semester) introduces the concept of World Englishes and makes a careful examination of some examples including Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English, Indian English, Singapore English, Hong Kong English. The practical part of the module will be centred on the methodology and techniques of oral Presentations.
The aim of the module is to lead the students to a high level of competence in the specialised area of oral Presentations and also in the comprehension of the various Englishes used in the modern world.
The principal reference texts are J. Jenkins, World Englishes (London: Routledge, 3rd edn, 2015), isome chapters from D. Britain (ed.), Language in the British Isles (Cambridge: CUP, 2007) and J. Van Emden & L. Becker, Presentation Skills for Students (London: Palgrave 2016); material will be made available on Moodle.
Final assessment will be based on work completed during the module and an individual Preentation at the end of the module.
Full details of lessons, timetables, didactic materials, tests, etc. are available on the Moodle page Laboratorio di Lingua e Traduzione Inglese B029173 2019-2020