IT2LVS-One country, many languages. Linguistic variety and society in contemporary Italy

Module Provider: Modern Languages
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Chiara Ciarlo
Email: c.ciarlo@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

One nation = one language. This equation emerged with the geo-political unification of many European countries across the 19th century. However, far from representing the reality, the equation has proved to be oversimplifying, and barely applicable to countries like Italy where linguistic diversity and multilingualism had been experienced by speakers’ communities for centuries.

To prepare students for their year abroad in Italy, this module analyses the linguistic complexity of the Peninsula from before Unification in 1861 until the present day, focussing on the socio-historical events that have contributed to the spread of the standard language, and to the decline (but also survival) of the regional dialects and the minority languages, all of which are spoken in Italy today.

Aims:

Aims: 

The module aims to explore the Italian language and its varieties from a sociolinguistic perspective. Some of the main topics include:  monolingualism?vs?multilingualism,?standard?vs?minority?language, the notion of “linguistic repertoire”, the use of dialects and regional varieties of the standard in different contexts and across time, code-switching and code-mixing, literary and music production in non-standard varieties, the language of young people, the e-taliano, inclusivity in the Italian language, and the new ethno-linguistic minorities. 

The module also aims to introduce students to techniques of sociolinguistic research, such as questionnaires, sociolinguistic interviews, transcription of recordings for conversation analysis, and linguistic landscaping fieldwork.   

Assessable learning outcomes:

By engaging actively in this module, students will be able to: 

• develop deeper awareness of the socio-cultural context in which languages are spoken and used by speakers (linguistic repertoire), also by analysing their own; 


• use appropriately relevant sociolinguistic concepts and terminology, such as monolingualism/multilingualism, variety and register, language competence, language continuum, code-switching,, minority language, etc.; 


• describe and analyse the variation patterns in the use of standard Italian, dialects and minority languages across regions and across generations; 


• identify and evaluate key socio-historical facts that have shaped the spread of standard Italian and reduced the use of dialects and minority languages since Unification; 


• develop new methodological skills, which will enable them to design sociolinguistic interviews and questionnaires,to transcribe interviews and conversations, and to plan linguistic landscape fieldwork. 

Additional outcomes:

By engaging actively in this module, students will also be able to:The module also aims to encourage students: 

• develop  further their research planning  and writing skills; 


• choose appropriate bibliographic material and use correct referencing styles;  


• develop their oral presentation and discussion skills in group situations and individually; 


• develop their problem-solving abilitiesskills. 

Outline content:

In the Autumn Term, lLessons will explore the linguistic journey of Italians, from a people speaking different regional dialects, to a nation unified by a standard language (through the two World Wars, internal and external migration, and other key socio-cultural events), where dialects are still spoken by many, and where new ethnolinguistic minorities have become part of the current linguistic panorama. In the Spring Term, lessons will use examples from the linguistic situation of Italy to introduce sociolinguistic research techniques, such as sociolinguistic interviews, questionnaires, transcriptions of conversations and planning of fieldwork on linguistic landscaping.  

As part of the assessment for this module, students will be able to approach the Italian language and its varieties from a sociolinguistic viewpoint and to design a piece of research about one or more aspects concerning the Italian language today, to become aware of the use of the language in real social contexts.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, for which students will carry out preparatory reading. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10	10
Seminars	5	3
Fieldwork		2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	40	40
Wider reading (directed)	20	20
Advance preparation for classes	10	10
Preparation for presentations	10
Carry-out research project		20
Total hours by term	95	105	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Project output other than dissertation	70
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

By the end of the Autumn Term, students will be asked to give a presentation to the lecturer on one of the topics covered. They will create a PowerPoint or academic poster and use this to support their presentation, which will be followed by questions from the tutor (this assignment is worth 30% of the final mark). During the Spring Term, students will be asked to plan, design and carry out a 2500-word research project on a topic of their choice involving the Italian language. The project needs to include a research tool (questionnaire, interview, transcription of spontaneous conversation, fieldwork etc.) to gather primary data, which will then be analysed and discussed within an appropriate sociolinguistic framework. The research project is , due by week 1 of the Summer Term (this assignment is worth 70% of the final mark). 

One piece of assessment worth no more than 50% of the module mark can be?replaced by a report produced after an academic placement. The placement must be?agreed in advance by the module convenor; the length of the report is to be?equivalent to standard departmental practice for coursework. 

Formative assessment methods:

By week 9 of the Spring Term, students will be required to submit a formative proposal for their research project, stating the research question(s), some background information, some key bibliographic references and including a draft version of the research tool (e.g. a questionnaire, interview questions, etc.).

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment in August, in the event of failure in this module and of failure in Part 2 as a whole. Coursework for reassessment must be resubmitted by 12 NOON on the third Friday of August or, if the University is closed on the third Friday of August, by 12 NOON on the first working day thereafter.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding:  £20 - only in case students choose to produce an academic poster as part of their Autumn Term presentation.

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023