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 grammar of the student's native language.

Generalities on the Ainu language
Phonology and phonology
Nominal and verbal 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 from the Edizioni Ca' Foscari website.
2) Campbell, Lyle (2018) "Language isolates and their history" in Lyle Campbell (ed.) "Language Isolates", London/New York: Routledge, pp. 1-18. (provided by the teacher).
3) Slide on moodle platform.

Optional readings:
1) Janhunen, Juha (2022) "Ainu ethnic origins" in Anna Bugaeva (ed.) "Handbook of the Ainu language", Berlino: De Gruyter Mouton, pp. 57-78.
All titles in the bibliography section of the above-mentioned volume are to be considered optional readings as well.

Both modules for the Ainu Language course will be held in the first semester with two lessons per week. The contents of module 1, which are required for module 2, will be taught first during the lessons in the first period (September-October). The contents of module 2 will be taught in the second period (November-December).

Assessment of the skills acquired in module 1 will happen with a written and oral exam.
During the first period, 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 an oral interview (15-20 minutes) on the day of the exam.

Only students who successfully pass the exam for module 1 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 module 2 exam.
The eligibility obtained when passing the exam of module 1 will be valid until the fall exam session (August-September) of the academic year in which the module 1 exam was taken.

Taught class with students' active participation.

Italian

Though not mandatory, attending the course is strongly advised.

written and oral