CHINESE LINGUISTICS

This course, which is one of the supplementary courses offered by the Master's Degree Programme in Languages and Civilizations of Asia and North Africa (Chinese), aims at: providing a general knowledge of the main aspects of Chinese linguistics; developing the ability of reflecting on the Chinese language; providing the basic methodological tools for linguistic analysis and cross-linguistic comparison. The course will particularly focus on the Chinese lexicon and morpho-syntax. The achievement of these aims will provide students with important knowledge for the understanding of cross-linguistic dynamics and essential tools to use in language analysis and in language use, so as to integrate the skills which mainly characterize this MA programme.

Through the attendance of the course and individual study, students will:

1. Knowledge and understanding

- Get to know the main aspects of Chinese linguistics and acquire analytical and metalinguistic reflection skills, also in a cross-linguistic comparative perspective.
- Get to know the basic linguistic terminology and understand the texts that make use of it.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding

- Know how to make a linguistic analysis of different aspects of the Chinese language and to compare it with Italian and English.
- Contextualize and solve theoretical problems related to translation and linguistic mediation activities.
- Know how to use correctly linguistic terminology at all stages of application and communication of the acquired knowledge.

3. Communication skills

- Know how to communicate the reflection on linguistic phenomena using an appropriate terminology.

Adequate knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and English.
A basic knowledge of general linguistics is desirable.

- Description of the varieties of Chinese spoken in the People’s Republic of China. Issues related to the definition of standard Chinese.
- Genetic and typological issues: the position of Chinese among the languages of the world.
- Phonetics and phonology.
- The Chinese writing system: classification and structure of Chinese characters; traditional characters and simplified characters; the origins of Chinese writing.
- Morphology and lexicon: features of Chinese morphology; analysis of the main word formation processes.
- Elements of syntax.

Compulsory readings:

Arcodia, G.F. and B. Basciano (2016). Linguistica cinese. Bologna: Patron. The following chapters:
chapter 1
chapter 2 (except 2.3.2)
chapter 3 (only 3.2 and 3.2.1)
chapter 4 (except 4.4)
chapter 5

Further readings:

A. Morbiato (2020). Il tema cinese tra frase e testo: struttura sintattica, informativa e del discorso. Venezia: Ca' Foscarina.

Transparencies presented in class.
Possible supplementary materials will be announced during the course.

Suggested readings:

Graffi, G. and S. Scalise (2013). Le lingue e il linguaggio. Introduzione alla linguistica. Bologna: Il Mulino (chapters 1 to 8)

A written test consisting in:
- multiple choice questions to verify acquired knowledge;
- short answer questions / exercises to assess the ability of linguistic reflection and analysis.
- an open question to verify the acquired knowledge and to assess the ability to explain it formally.

Face-to-face lectures, plus assignments to be done independently, and then discussed in the classroom.

Italian

written