History of the Italian Language and Linguistic Variation

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Master

Teaching semester

Fall

Place of Instruction

Bergen and online

Objectives and Content

The course aims to develop an independent and critical understanding of research traditions within Italian linguistics, and the main features of the dialectological and sociolinguistic practices in the country.

The central theme for the course is the linguistic development from the early Middle Ages to a common national language in a context that has always been characterized by linguistic diversity.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge: Upon completion of the course, the student will

• have in-depth knowledge of the linguistic developments in Italy
• be familiar with the linguistic diversity in Italy today

Skills: Upon completion of the course, the student will

• have an understanding of and be able to contextualize linguistic research questions pertaining to the Italian language in a broad historical perspective
• have the ability to use this knowledge in their further study of Italian culture

General competence: Upon completion of the course, the student will

• be able to complete a theoretically challenging project with multiple variables
• be able to work independently with analytical questions related to the field- have high proficiency in Italian

Required Previous Knowledge

Bachelor's degree or equivalent with specialization in Italian language and literature.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Proficiency in Italian minimum on the level of a bachelor¿s degree with specialization in Italian.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

None

Access to the Course

The course is open to all students who have been admitted to the master's program in Italian at the University of Bergen

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching comprises lectures and seminar work. Typically, there will be a two-hour lecture (i.e. two class hours) and a two-hour seminar every week for a period of ten weeks in total. The teaching will be both on campus and online (hybrid). In the case that fewer than five students register for a course, the organized teaching may be adapted to fit the number of students. If this occurs, the students will be informed at the start of the semester, and before the registration deadline 1 February/1 September.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

The compulsory assignment for this course is a prepared 20-minute seminar presentation about a given topic. The assessment for this assignment is pass/fail.

Approved compulsory assignments are valid for the course semester and for the following semester.

Forms of Assessment

Portfolio assessment. The student submits two individual unsupervised assignments of approx. 2000 words. The first assignment is due mid-semester and the second at the end of the semester. Both assignments are to be written in Italian. The portfolio is the basis for the final grade. Both assignments must be completed in the same semester.

Examination Support Material

-

Grading Scale

The department uses a grading scale ranging from A to F. F is a failing grade.

Assessment Semester

Fall/Spring.

Reading List

The reading list shows the texts assigned each semester. The reading list will be available before 1 June for the fall semester.

Course Evaluation

The course will be evaluated in accordance with University of Bergen¿s quality assurance system.

Programme Committee

The Program Board is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.

Course Coordinator

Program Board for Italian

Course Administrator

The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study program.