Teaching code

4S01263

Teacher

Chiara Melloni

Coordinatore

Chiara Melloni

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS

Period

Sem. 1A dal Sep 24, 2018 al Nov 10, 2018.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide an introduction to the fascinating domain of first language acquisition, exploring both typical and atypical development, with particular reference to specific language impairments and developmental dyslexia. The course also aims to provide the students with some fundamental knowledge concerning bilingualism, with classes dedicated to the presentation of the cognitive and linguistic profile of children who learn the second language at an early age or from birth.
After completion of the course, the student will know the main stages of the language acquisition process, in typical and atypical development and in the bilingual context; will be able to apply the tools of linguistic analysis to recognize and describe the main phenomena that characterize language acquisition at different levels of analysis (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and vocabulary); will be able to develop critical judgments regarding the interpretations that have been provided in the various theoretical frameworks with respect to the mechanisms of language acquisition.

There are no prerequisites for this module.

Classes will be held in ITALIAN.

Program

The course deals with the phenomenon of language acquisition by monolingual and bilingual children, with typical and atypical development.
Specific aspects of language acquisition will therefore be investigated with particular attention to:

- phonological phenomena: ability to discriminate between different languages and different phonemes;
- lexical phenomena: vocabulary learning skills, with particular reference to nouns and verbs;
- morphosyntactic phenomena: understanding and production of syntactic structures of different orders of complexity.

The developmental path will be investigated starting from the first steps in the perception of linguistic sounds by the newborn, up to the development of morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers.
Specific attention will be given to some key elements of atypical development, with a presentation of the linguistic profile of the subjects affected by Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia. A final module (3 classes) will focus on the domain of bilingual acquisition and on the linguistic and cognitive profile of early bilingual children.

--> CLASS WILL START ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER

Examination Methods

The final exam aims at assessing the theoretical knowledge acquired by the students during the course, as well as their ability to apply this knowledge to concrete linguistic phenomena.

The assessment is carried out by means of a written examination, which last 1:30 hours.

The tests consist of both open-ended and multiple-choice questions and concern all the topics in the program, both those addressed during classes and those autonomously studied by the students.

The evaluation criteria are:
- substantial correctness of the responses and exhaustiveness of the contents
- adequateness of analytical skills
- expressive clarity and argumentative skills