SIGN LINGUISTICS

The course shares the following objectives and expected results: the student knows and deeply understands the techniques and tools available to linguistic research in sign language in general, and in LIS in particular; the student knows and understands the recent theoretical proposals to derive simple sentences in LIS; the student is able to collect linguistic data concerning interlinguistic variation with respect to simple sentences in LIS; the student is able to find the adequate bibliography and to use it critically; the student is able to present his/her research work both in a written paper and in an oral presentation.

General objectives
Main objective of the course is to develop the ability to carry out a formal analysis of Italian Sign Language by applying the formal tools acquired during the course of General linguistics and the knowledge of the linguistic features typical of the visuo-gestural modality acquired during the course of Italian Sign Language 1, Italian Sign Language 2 and Italian Sign Language 3. The course aims at promoting the metalinguistic awareness of Italian Sign Language in a comparative perspective with Italian and in a cross-modal perspective between spoken and sign languages.
The competences acquired during this course allow a conscious acquisition of the contents of the course of Italian Sign Language 3.

Detailed objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding
The student knows the formal syntactic representation of main clauses (declarative clause, negative clause, interrogative clause) in Italian Sign Language.
The student understands the syntactic features typical of the visuo-gestural modality responsible for the different syntactic structure in a comparative perspective with Italian and spoken languages.
The student knows and understands recent formal studies and theoretical proposals advanced to derive simple syntactic constructions of Italian Sign Language.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
The student knows how to use the linguistic terminology at all levels of the acquired knowledge.
The student knows how to use the tools of analysis of formal linguistics to describe aspects of the syntax of Italian Sign Language. The student is able to detect and reflect upon the syntactic structural differences between Italian and Italian Sign Language. The student is able to recognize the syntactic features and structures of simple clauses of Italian Sign Language. The student is able to apply the acquired knowledge to new linguistic data.
The student is able to solve problems of formal syntactic analysis when presented with new linguistic data.
3. Making judgements
The student is able to critically analyze new data in Italian Sign Language by arguing and defending his/her hypotheses advanced on the basis of the knowledge acquired during the course.

4. Communication
The student is able to express his/her hypotheses and the formal analyses advanced in the literature on the syntactic representation of Italian Sign Language by employing the terminology specific to formal linguistic studies.
The student is able to interact with the peers and the professor in a critical and respectful way.

5. Learning skills
The student is able to develop critical thinking.
The student is able to look for and find the literature specific to the linguistic phenomena object of investigation.
The student is able to develop the acquired knowledge for future higher studies.

The student is supposed to have acquired the competences required by the course of General Linguistics mod. 1 and preferably by the course of General Linguistics mod. 2.
The student is required to have acquired the competences required by the course of Italian Sign Language 1 and preferably by the course of Italian Sign Language 2.

Tools and methodology in sign language research
The birth of a sign language and the debate between innatism and environment
The syntactic representation of the declarative clause in Italian Sign Language
The syntactic representation of modal verbs, adverbials and the aspectual marker in Italian Sign Language
The syntactic representation of negative clauses in Italian Sign Language
The syntactic representation of interrogative clauses in Italian Sign Language
The syntactic representation of the left periphery in Italian Sign Language

Pfau R., Steinbach, M., Woll B. (ed) 2012. Sign Language. An international Handbook. Mouton De Gruyter. Students will read the following articles:
- Tense, aspect and modality – Pfau, Steinbach & Woll
- Sentence types - Cecchetto
- Negation - Quer
Branchini, C., Mantovan, L. (ed) 2020. A Grammar of Italian Sign Language. SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammars [SHSLG]. A selection of articles will be indicated during the course
Further articles in electronic format will be made available during the course.

Students without a background in general linguistics are advised to study the handbook:
Caterina Donati. 2008. La sintassi. Carocci editore

Students will be evaluated through two different examinations: (i) an experimental research work aiming at describing and analyzing linguistic data in LIS on syntactic topics provided by the teacher. The experimental research can be carried out individually or in small groups and will be presented to the class at the end of the course. Besides the oral presentation of the linguistic research, students are required to hand in a short paper illustrating the work presented orally. The experimental research work will weight on the final score for 50%. This examination aims at verifying the applied knowledge and understanding of the topics presented during the course, the student’s ability to make judgements, the student’s ability to communicate his/her knowledge and his/her critical thinking.
(ii) the second examination is an oral discussion aiming at verifying the student’s ability to apply the acquired knowledge, critical thinking and appropriate use of the specialized linguistic terminology.

Lectures and linguistic practices (or online learning depending on covid-19).
Video recorded linguistic material will be used.

Italian

The course is taught in Italian.
Attendance is warmly recommended.

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