Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing basic notions of English syntax, semantics and pragmatics, so as to introduce students to text and discourse analysis. The course will also include a monographic section about common linguistic and communicative strategies at play in magazine writing.

Program

The course will address the following topics:
a) syntax
b) introduction to the semantics of word and sentence; speech acts
c) introduction to pragmatics
d) introduction to discourse analysis
e) analysis of linguistic and communicative strategies at play in magazine writing.



Bibliography – general section

Crystal, David (2003). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Second edition. Cambridge: CUP. [ch. 11, 15, 16, 19]
Kuiper, Koenraad, and W. Scott Allan (2004). An Introduction to English Language. Second edition. New York: Palgrave. [part three]
Leech, Geoffrey (1983). Principles of Pragmatics. New York: Longman.
Salkie, Raphael (1995). Text and Discourse Analysis. London: Routledge.


Bibliography – monographic section

Belladelli, Anna (2011). Slangxploitation. Verona: ombre corte.
McKay, Jenny (2006). The Magazine Handbook. London: Routledge. [selected chapters]
Van Dijk, Teun (2006). “Discourse and manipulation”. Discourse & Society, May 2006; vol. 17, 3: pp. 359-383.

Further material will be provided during the course.

Examination Methods

Attending and non-attending students are required to take a written test.

Language proficiency requirements
A B2 language certificate is required. The certificate can be obtained either from the CLA (Centro Linguistico di Ateneo) or from other authorized testing centers, as described in the Students’ handbook.