29403 - Sociolinguistics (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will be acquainted with main topics in sociolinguistics and will gain advanced knowledge of sociolinguistic variation of Italian. Moreover, students will acquire basic knowledge of some data analysis tools widely used in sociolinguistics. With this competence, students will be aware of sociolinguistic variation of languages (specifically of Italian) and will be familiar with description patterns of sociolinguistic variation. Moreover, they will be able to use categories and methods of sociolinguistic in order to describe and analyze language facts.

Course contents

The course is mainly addressed to students with background knowledge of linguistics.

The course is divided into two parts:

Part I - Introduction to sociolinguistics and the sociolinguistic scenario of contemporary Italian:

- Areas of study of sociolinguistics;

- Basic notions (linguistic community, linguistic repertoire, etc.);

- Sociolinguistic variables;

- The notion of continuum;

- Range of variation;

- Sociolinguistic variation of Italian and Architektur der Sprache;

- Some Italian varieties: neo-standard Italian, italiano popolare.

Part II - Sociolinguistic variation and language change:

- Language variation and language change;

- Grammaticalization and sociolinguistic varieties;

- Case studies.

Readings/Bibliography

 

The course has been designed for students with a basic background in linguistics (i.e. with competences like those that are developed in General Linguistics classes, or in classes on the History of various languages). The students who believe not to have this background knowledge are advised to refer to a basic handbook of linguistics, as. e.g Berruto, Gaetano & Massimo, Cerruti (2017), La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo, Torino, UTET

Program for students who attend the lectures

Part I

a) Berruto, Gaetano, 2007 [1995], Fondamenti di Sociolinguistica, Bari, Laterza.

Chap. 1: La collocazione della sociolinguistica tra le scienze del linguaggio

Chap. 3: Nozioni fondamentali e unità di analisi

Chap. 5: L’analisi della variazione interna alla lingua

b) Berruto, Gaetano, 2012, Sociolinguistica dell’italiano contemporaneo. Seconda edizione, Roma, Carocci.

 

Part II

(c) Kuteva T, Heine B, Hong B, Long H, Narrog H, Rhee S, 2019, Introduction. In: Kuteva T, Heine B, Hong B, Long H, Narrog H, Rhee S (a cura di), World Lexicon of Grammaticalization. Cambridge University Press. 1-22.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

(d) Cerruti M, 2021, Variazione sociolinguistica e processi di grammaticalizzazione. In: Ballarè S, Inglese G (a cura di), Tipologia e sociolinguistica: verso un approccio integrato allo studio della variazione (Atti del workshop della Società di Linguistica Italiana, 20 settembre 2020), Officinaventuno. 53-80.

OA [https://www.societadilinguisticaitaliana.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/002_Cerruti_Atti_SLI_Workshop_2020.pdf]

 

(e) Ballarè S, Inglese G, 2022, The development of locative markers. From typology to sociolinguistics (and back). Studies in Language. 220-257.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

(f) 

(1) Nevalainen T, Palander-Collin M, 2011, Grammaticalization and sociolinguistics. In Heine B, Narrog H. (a cura di), The Oxford Handbook of Grammaticalization. Oxford Academic. 118–129.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

OR

(2) Poplack S, 2011, Grammaticalization and linguistic Variation. In Heine B, Narrog H. (a cura di), The Oxford Handbook of Grammaticalization. Oxford Academic. 209-224.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

It is suggested (but not mandatory!) the reading of:

Weinreich U, Labov W, Herzog M, 1968, Empirical foundations for a theory of language change. In Lehman W, Malkiel Y (a cura di), Directions for historical linguistics. University of Texas Press. 97-195.

OA: https://mnytud.arts.unideb.hu/tananyag/szoclingv_alap/wlh.pdf

 

 

Program for students who do not attend the lectures

Part I

a) Berruto, Gaetano, 2007 [1995], Fondamenti di Sociolinguistica, Bari, Laterza.

Chap. 1: La collocazione della sociolinguistica tra le scienze del linguaggio

Chap. 3: Nozioni fondamentali e unità di analisi

Chap. 5: L’analisi della variazione interna alla lingua

b) Berruto, Gaetano, 2012, Sociolinguistica dell’italiano contemporaneo. Seconda edizione, Roma, Carocci.

c) Ballarè, Silvia, Eugenio Goria e Caterina Mauri, 2022, Italiano parlato e variazione linguistica. Teoria e prassi nella costruzione del corpus KIParla, Bologna, Pàtron.

Part II

(d) Kuteva T, Heine B, Hong B, Long H, Narrog H, Rhee S, 2019, Introduction. In: Kuteva T, Heine B, Hong B, Long H, Narrog H, Rhee S (a cura di), World Lexicon of Grammaticalization. Cambridge University Press. 1-22.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

(e) Cerruti M, 2021, Variazione sociolinguistica e processi di grammaticalizzazione. In: Ballarè S, Inglese G (a cura di), Tipologia e sociolinguistica: verso un approccio integrato allo studio della variazione (Atti del workshop della Società di Linguistica Italiana, 20 settembre 2020), Officinaventuno. 53-80.

OA [https://www.societadilinguisticaitaliana.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/002_Cerruti_Atti_SLI_Workshop_2020.pdf]

 

(f) Ballarè S, Inglese G, 2022, The development of locative markers. From typology to sociolinguistics (and back). Studies in Language. 220-257.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

(g)

(1) Nevalainen T, Palander-Collin M, 2011, Grammaticalization and sociolinguistics. In Heine B, Narrog H. (a cura di), The Oxford Handbook of Grammaticalization. Oxford Academic. 118–129.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

OR

(2) Poplack S, 2011, Grammaticalization and linguistic Variation. In Heine B, Narrog H. (a cura di), The Oxford Handbook of Grammaticalization. Oxford Academic. 229-224.

Disponibile tramite proxy di ateneo [https://sba-unibo-it.ezproxy.unibo.it/it]

 

It is suggested (but not mandatory!) the reading of:

Weinreich U, Labov W, Herzog M, 1968, Empirical foundations for a theory of language change. In Lehman W, Malkiel Y (a cura di), Directions for historical linguistics. University of Texas Press. 97-195.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral examination on the program in order to evaluate the acquisition of the basic notions of sociolinguistics and the ability to critically re-elaborate what was addressed during the course.

During the assessment, will be appreciated the correct use of the terminology of the discipline, the rigor in the presentation and argumentation, the achievement of a global vision of the topics addressed during the course and the ability to propose links between the different topics. On the other hand, the mnemonic exposure of the contents and the presence of logical leaps and gaps will be evaluated negatively.

It is absolutely mandatory to register for the exam through Almaesami. If many students sign up, the instructor will communicate a time plan for the oral exams as soon as the lists close.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The material (readings, slides used in class, etc.) will be uploaded on the "Virtuale" e-learning platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/ ).

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Ballarè