AINU LANGUAGE MOD.1

This course is among the ones characterizing the China, Japan, and Korea curricula within the degree programme "Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".
The course aims at providing students with a basic knowledge of the Ainu language (Southern Hokkaido and Sakhalin varieties) and with the analytical methods to approach audio and written Ainu sources.
Module 1 of the course focuses on the basics of Ainu grammar.

Students will gain knowledge on the basics of the Ainu grammar (genealogy, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and some elements of sociolinguistics) needed to move on to the second module of the course. Students will also develop specific analytical skills in comparing languages, in order to actively understand the rules and structures of Ainu.

Good knowledge of the English language and perfect knowledge of the Italian grammar.

Generalities on the Ainu language
Phonology and phonology
Morphosyntax
Semantics
Pragmatics
Elements of sociolinguistics
Genealogy of the language

Mandatory readings:
1) “Materials and methods of analysis for the study of the Ainu language” - The book is available to download for free at (https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/en/edizioni4/libri/978-88-6969-585-8/ ) or a physical copy can be purchased with a student discount by getting in touch with Edizioni Ca' Foscari (ecf@unive.it). In either case, it is strongly suggested to bring a printed out copy of the materials to class.
2) Lyle Campbell (2018) "Language isolates and their history" in "Language Isolates", Routledge Language Family Series (provided by the teacher).
3) Slide on moodle platform.

Optional readings:
All titles in the bibliography section of the above-mentioned volume are to be considered optional readings.

The Ainu Language course spans over two semesters.

Assessment of the skills acquired in module 1 will happen with a written and oral exam.
During the first semester the teacher will assign, as homework, a number of short reports (200-400 words) on the Ainu grammar topics discussed during the lesson, after these topics have been properly explained in class. Writing these reports is mandatory and it will constitute the written part of the final exam of the first module.
This written test will be followed by a short oral interview on the day of the exam.

Only students who successfully pass the exam for the first module will be able to take the exam for the second module. At the end of the exam for the first module, the teacher will communicate a grade that will not be recorded. Rather, this grade will give a total average grade together with the grade obtained after passing the second module's exam.
The eligibility obtained when passing the exam of the first module will be valid until the first exam session of January of the following year.

Taught class with students' active participation.

Italian

Though not mandatory, attending the course is strongly advised.
Non-attending students should contact the teacher.

written and oral