SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
none
Written exam
The course aims to provide the coordinates for the social interpretation of
linguistic variation with reference to contemporary Italian.
EXPECTED LEARNING RESULTS
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Understand the dimension of linguistic variation in the spoken and written domain.
• Relate language variables with the society and culture by which they are
affected.
• Identify the different registers and styles of communication in relation to
different contexts.
• Enhance linguistic diversity by recognizing its social and cultural value.
1. Aspects of sociolinguistic theory
• Linguistic change: endogenous and exogenous factors.
• Language vs dialect (= variety).
• Idiolect, sociolect, bilingualism.
• Sociolinguistic relativism.
2. The dimensions of variation
• Diatopy (variation in relation to geography / origin).
• Diastrathy (variation in relation to social variables).
• Diaphasia (variation in relation to the contexts of use).
• Diamesia (variation in relation to the means / channel of communication).
3. Types of Italian
• Regional Italian.
• Standard Italian.
• Neo-standard Italian.
• Popular Italian.
4. Language and sociolinguistic variables
• Language and gender.
• The language and level of education.
• The language and age.
• Microlanguage: jargons, codes, sectoral languages.
5. Language and context of use / means of communication
• Spoken Italian, written Italian, 'sent' Italian: registers and styles.
• The language of the mass media: television, radio, newspapers.
• The language of social networks.
6. Language in contact
• Minority languages and minority languages in Italy.
• The Italian of the emigrants.
• The Italian of immigrants.
Lessons