CHINESE LINGUISTICS

This course, which is one of the core educational activities offered by the Master's Degree programme in Translation and Interpreting, 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 Chinese morphology, syntax and pragmatics. The achievement of these aims will provide students with important knowledge for the understanding of interlinguistic dynamics and essential tools to use in translation, so as to integrate the skills which mainly characterize the master's degree 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, phonology, and the Chinese writing system.
- Elements of morphology and the lexicon: features of Chinese morphology; the main word formation processes.
- The syntax of Chinese; word order and the notions used to describe the Chinese sentence. Information structure and thematic structure within texts.

Compulsory readings:

Arcodia, G.F. and B. Basciano (2016). Linguistica cinese. Bologna: Patron.
A. Morbiato (2020). Il tema cinese tra frase e testo: struttura sintattica, informativa e del discorso. Venezia: Ca' Foscarina.

Further readings:

Basciano, B. (2016). A linguistic overview of brand naming in the Chinese-speaking world. Annali di Ca’ Foscari - Serie Orientale 52: 243-296. Available here:
https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/en/edizioni/riviste/annali-di-ca-foscari-serie-orientale/2016/1/a-linguistic-overview-of-brand-naming-in-the-chine/

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

Suggested readings:
Arcodia, G. F. e Panunzi, A. (eds.) (2023). Linguistica. Introduzione alle scienze del linguaggio. MIlano: Pearson (chapters 1-5, 7 and 8).
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:
- 15 multiple choice questions to verify acquired knowledge (1 point each, max. 15 points in total);
- 6 short answer questions / exercises to assess the ability of linguistic reflection and analysis (max. 2 points each, max. 12 points in total).
- an open question to verify the acquired knowledge and to assess the ability to explain it formally (max. 3 points).

The test lasts 75 minutes.

A facsimile of the test is available on the Moodle platform (https://moodle.unive.it/ ), among the materials associated with the course

written

28-30L:

Excellent command and coherent presentation of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks.
Strong analytical skills in linguistic analysis and proficient application of theoretical concepts to the description of linguistic phenomena under study.
Precise and appropriate use of linguistic terminology.

26-27:

Good knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and, to a lesser extent, in textbooks.
Adequate ability to conduct linguistic analysis, with some inaccuracies in both analysis and application of theoretical concepts to the description of linguistic phenomena.
Generally correct use of linguistic terminology, with occasional imprecisions.

24-25:

Sufficient overall knowledge of the topics covered, though not always in depth.
Linguistic analysis and application of theoretical concepts presented in an orderly manner but sometimes lacking detail or containing inconsistencies in argumentation.
Use of linguistic terminology not always precise.

22-23:

Often superficial knowledge of the topics covered.
Linguistic analysis and application of theoretical concepts poorly structured and sometimes inconsistent.
Limited and inaccurate use of linguistic terminology.
Difficulty in applying theoretical and methodological models.

18-21:

Fragmented and incomplete knowledge of the topics covered.
Linguistic analysis and application of theoretical concepts confused and incoherent, with difficulties in organizing information.
Poor use of linguistic terminology.

Face-to-face lectures. During the course exercises and self evaluation tests will be available on the Moodle e-learning platform.