31182 - Spanish Language and Linguistics 2 (A-F)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at studying the structures and syntactic rules in Spanish as well as analyzing the phrase and systematically exploring the basic notions of syntax.

Course contents

LINGUISTICS (First semester course)

1. Syntax: object of study and trends. Descriptive and functional syntax.

2. Syntactic categories: types of words, locutions (determinative, adverbial, prepositional, conjunctional and verbal) and syntactic groups or syntagma.

3. Syntactic functions of the words types: nucleus or core, updater, modifier, direct complement, indirect complement, circumstantial, predicative, agent, regime, attribute, apposition.

4. Types of syntagma: nominal, adjectival, adverbial, verbal and prepositional. Structure and function of syntagmas. Significance. Nucleus of the nominal syntagma and modifiers: ‘substantivation'. Functions of the adjectives, demonstratives and articles; nucleus of the verbal syntagma and complements: temporal and modal aspects of the verb. Verbal periphrases. Use of “se”. Direct and Indirect speech.

5. Enunciate: according to the speaker and the grammatical nature of the predicate. Relationship between phrases of different classes.

6. Syntactic analysis: the simple phrase. Subject and Predicate. Position of the elements of the phrase. Concordance subject-predicate, classes of phrases. Horizontal diagram. Phonology and syntax of the simple phrase. Use of “se”.

7. Syntactic analysis: the complex phrase. Coordinates and subordinates (substantive, adjectival, adverbial). Transformation from simple to complex and vice versa. Use of subjunctive / indicative. Relation within the phrase: the connectors.

8. Syntax of the text.


PRACTICES OF SPANISH LANGUAGE (Annual course - Dott.ssa Delia Cócera)

B Independent Speaker

B1 Threshold B2 Vantage Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Readings/Bibliography

LINGUISTICS

Cascón Martín, Eugenio (2000), Sintaxis. Teoría y práctica del análisis oracional, Madrid, Edinumen.

Fuentes Rodríguez, Catalina (2007), Sintaxis del enunciado: los complementos periféricos, Madrid, Arco/Libros, p. 79.

Alvar, Manuel (2000), Introducción a la lingüística española, Barcelona, Ariel:

• López García, Á., "Teoría gramatical", pp. 7-22
• Martínez Marín, J., "La Interrogación", pp. 371-380
• Narbona Jiménez, A., "Sintaxis coloquial", pp. 463-478
• Vaquero, M., "Impersonalidad y distanciamiento", pp. 491-501.

PRACTICES ON SPANISH LANGUAGE

Information about compulsory texts will be delivered at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

LINGUISTICS

Gradual introduction to:

- the principal grammatical categories and their formal, functional and semantic aspects within syntagms
- the different types of syntagm and the mechanisms by which the grammatical categories are related
- larger structures, from the phrase to the paragraph. Simple and complex phrases and the form, function and sense of enunciates.
- the basic concepts related to the syntax of the text and the colloquial syntax.

All the theoretical aspects explored will be supported by a series of examples and the syntactic analysis of diverse structures.

PRACTICES ON SPANISH LANGUAGE

On this course will be applied the following methodologies:

- implementation of activities in order to consolidate the knowledge about the Spanish morphosyntactic structures;
- implementation of activities in order to increase the lexicon and to understand the pragmatic connotations;
- implementation of activities in order to consolidate a correct phonologic system and a correct orthography;
- continuous exercises in order to develop the four basic abilities.

Assessment methods

LINGUISTICS

Oral exam in Spanish about the contents of the course and syntactic analysis of a paragraph. The student shall succeed a previous written and oral exams (Esercitazioni della lingua) in order to access the oral exam of Linguistics.

PRACTICES ON SPANISH LANGUAGE

WRITING examination
This course's final evaluation will be made by means of a written exam that students should pass in order to be admitted to the oral exam (only the students with a positive result of 18/30 will be allowed to do the oral exam). The student should demonstrate the knowledge of the different items practised during the course related to the morphosyntactic structures, the lexicon, the writing ability and the translation. Questions will be especifically related to the grammar indicated in the bibliography. The use of any type of dictionaries will be forbidden.

ORAL examination
Once the writing exam will be passed and no more than six sessions after the writing examination, the student will be allowed to do the oral exam. He/she should demonstrate that he/she knows the morphosyntactic, semantic and pragmatic contents presented during the course in an oral explanation of the texts of the dossier presented by the assistants.

Teaching tools

Grammar:

González Hermoso, A. Et al. (2002). Gramática de español lengua extranjera, Madrid, Edelsa.

Carrera Díaz, M. (2000). Grammatica spagnola, Bari, Laterza.

Gómez Torrego, L. (2002). Gramática didáctica del español, Madrid, SM.

Monolingual Dictionnaries:

Real Academia Española (2001). Diccionario de la lengua española, Madrid, Espasa Calpe. (2 vols.)

(2006). Clave. Diccionario de uso del español actual, Madrid, SM.

Moliner, Mª (1999). Diccionario de uso del español, Madrid, Gredos.

Dictionnaries for the resolution of doubts:

Seco, M. (1998). Diccionario de dudas y dificultades de la lengua española, Madrid, Espasa.

Real Academia Española e Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2005). Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, Madrid, Santillana.

Bilingual Dictionnaries:

Tam, L. (2003). Dizionario spagnolo-italiano e italiano-spagnolo, Milano, Hoepli.

Calvo, C. e Giordano, A. (1995). Diccionario italiano-español/español-italiano, Barcelona, Herder.

Office hours

See the website of Ana Pano Alaman