Course program
The course is divided into two modules, held in the first and second semesters, respectively, and it is the same as the course of Istituzioni della lingua italiana for Lettere moderne (code 10616101). The first module (Module A) is also open to students of Linguistic, Literary, and Translation Studies (SLLT) who have never taken an exam in the History of the Italian Language, and is attended by students from degree programs in Languages, Cultures, Literatures, Translation (LCLT), Archaeology, Archaeological Sciences, History, Anthropology, and Religious Studies.
The first module (Module A), offered in the first semester, is dedicated to an introduction to the history of the Italian language, providing a historical overview of the events that have influenced it, the debates surrounding it, as well as the internal evolution of its varieties. This part of the course also aims to provide basic skills for the linguistic analysis of literary texts.
The second module (Module B), offered in the second semester, focuses on the language and style of contemporary Italian novels. During this module, the phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and lexical characteristics of contemporary Italian will be explored and then examined and compared to literary Italian. This part of the course also aims to provide more advanced skills for the linguistic and stylistic analysis of literary prose texts.
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Prerequisites
The only prerequisite is a good knowledge of the Italian language.
Books
The first module (Module A, first semester) is based on the following textbook:
- Storia dell'italiano. La lingua, i testi, edited by G. Frosini, Salerno, 2020.
Additional bibliography will be provided in class.
The second module (Module B, second semester) is based on the following textbook and the reading of a novel of the student's choice (the full list will be provided later):
- P. D'Achille, L'italiano contemporaneo, Il Mulino, new edition 2025.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended, especially for the second module, which requires active participation in the discussions and in the linguistic and stylistic analysis of the novels we will study.
Exam mode
The first module includes a final written exam, in the form of a mid-term exemption. Active participation in class—particularly during linguistic analysis exercises—is strongly encouraged and appreciated.
The second module has a more seminar-based structure and requires the reading of one novel (chosen from a list of options) and collaborative work on discussion and linguistic analysis, both in class and at home. The final assessment will consist of an oral exam.
Lesson mode
Both modules are also designed for students of Lettere moderne (course code 10616101).
Module A (first semester) is also open to students of Languages, Cultures, Literatures, Translation (LCLT, course code 1035927), Archaeology, Archaeological Sciences, History, Anthropology, and Religious Studies (course code 1035927), and to students of Linguistic, Literary, and Translation Studies (SLLT) who have never taken an exam in the History of the Italian Language (course code 1026668).
Module B (second semester) is also open to students of Languages, Cultures, Literatures, Translation (LCLT) who wish to take the advanced Italian Linguistics exam (course code 10605924).
cThe course will run over two semesters: Module A in the first semester, Module B in the second semester. Times and classrooms remain the same: Tuesdays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Room 105 (Marco Polo) and Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in Room 203 (Marco Polo).
