Teaching code

4S02217

Credits

12

Coordinatore

Paola Maria Caleffi

Language

English

Moodle Seminars

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

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MM: I MODULO PARTE (I)
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The module is aimed at providing an introduction to English linguistics, both in diachronic and in synchronic terms, in order to consolidate the students’ linguistic skills that are mostly relevant to the professional prospects related to the degree in Communication Sciences. Diachronically, the module will outline the key stages of the history of the English language, with a particular attention on the evolution of the role of English as the language of international communication following globalisation. From a synchronic perspective, the module will focus on aspects of the language at the phonological/phonetic and morphological levels. The peculiarities of the phonological/phonetic and morphological features related to the use of English as a lingua franca will be highlighted through a comparative analysis with major native varieties of English.
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MM: II MODULO PARTE (P)
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The aim of the module is to develop students’ ability to critically observe the use of language in specific communicative settings through an introduction to the discipline of discourse analysis. Adopting a critical discourse analysis approach, the main features and communication strategies of argumentative/persuasive texts will be investigated, with a special focus on linguistic choices. Specifically, the main rhetorical-discursive features of the language of politics, advertising, and journalism will be analysed. At the end of the module, students will be able to apply methods and contents typical of critical discourse analysis to examine and interpret with a higher degree of critical awareness linguistic and communicative strategies adopted in the production of different texts belonging to different genres.

Program

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MM: I MODULO PARTE (I)
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• The key stages of the history of the English language: from Old English to Global English. • English as the language of global communication: the concepts of ELF, ESL, EFL. • Key concepts of the phonology/phonetics of the English language: the International Phonetic Alphabet; the phonological system and the sounds of the English language; phonological transcription; key concepts of connected speech; phonological/phonetic peculiarities of the use of English as a lingua franca. • Key concepts of morphology of the English language, with a specific focus on word-formation processes: inflection; derivation with affixation; compounding; conversion; truncation and abbreviation; blending. Creativity at the level of morphology in the use of English as a lingua franca. Texts and learning material Class slides (downloadable from Moodle) Facchinetti, Roberta (2016) English Phonetics and Morphology. A reader for first year university students. 3rd edition. Verona: Quiedit. Svartvik, Jan and Leech, Geoffrey (2006) English. On tongue, many voices. Basingstoke/New York: Palgrave Macmillan (capitoli 1-5, 7,8,10-12). Galloway, Nicola and Rose, Heath (2015) Introducing Global Englishes. New York: Routledge (capitoli 1, 3 , 7, 10). Further material, and bibliographical references for further reading will be provided during the course and uploaded on the Moodle platform. The programme is the same for "studenti frequentanti" and "non frequentanti" (attending/non-attending students). The module consists of 18 lectures, some of which will be devoted to practice (exercises and correction), in particular for the part concerning phonetics and phonology. During the last class students will have the opportunity to perform a mock exam. Lectures will be held for the most part in English. IMPORTANT NOTE: the final exam will be about BOTH modules. PRE-REQUISITE for the final exam is the B2 certification COMPLETE.
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MM: II MODULO PARTE (P)
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• Introduction to the concepts of discourse and discourse analysis. • Critical discourse analysis as a methodology for the study and understanding of the use of language as a form of social practice. • The language of politics: communication purposes and strategies. Analysis of political speeches. • The language of advertising: communication purposes and strategies. Analysis of advertising texts. • The language of journalism: communication purposes and strategies. Analysis of journalistic texts. Texts and learning material Machin, David and Mayr, Andrea (2012) How to do critical discourse analysis. LA/London/New Delhi/Singapore/Washington DC: SAGE. Introduction and chapters 2,4,6,7,8. Goddard, A. (2002) The Language of Advertising. London: Routledge. Charteris-Black, J. (2014) Analysing Political Speeches. Rhetoric, Discourse and Metaphor. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Relevant chapters will be specified during classes, and communicated also online for students who cannot attend. Richardson, J.E. (2007) Analysing Newspapers. An Approach from Critical Discourse Analysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Relevant chapters will be specified during classes, and communicated also online for students who cannot attend. The programme is the same for "studenti frequentanti" and "studenti non-frequentanti" (attending and non-attending students). The module consists of 18 lectures, during which frontal teaching will be combined with class activities consisting in the analysis of examples of texts belonging to the genres under investigation. During the last class students will have the opportunity to perform a mock exam. Lectures will be held for the most part in English. IMPORTANT NOTE: the final exam will be about BOTH modules. PRE-REQUISITE for the final exam is the B2 certification COMPLETE.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

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MM: I MODULO PARTE (I)
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The exam will be written and in English. The test will include questions (open and multiple choice) and practical exercises concerning both modules. Before the end of the course students will be provided with a mock exam which will be downloadable from the Moodle platform. The mock exam will also be performed during the last class. The final exam will assess both the acquisition of the course theoretical contents and the ability to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge to concrete situations of language use and analysis.
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MM: II MODULO PARTE (P)
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The exam will be written and in English. The test will include questions (open and multiple choice) and practical exercises concerning both modules. Before the end of the course students will be provided with a mock exam which will be downloadable from the Moodle platform. The mock exam will also be performed during the last class. The final exam will assess both the acquisition of the course theoretical contents and the ability to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge to concrete situations of language use and analysis.