ETHNOLINGUISTICS (ADVANCED COURSE)

The course is part the master’s degree program in Cultural Anthropology, Ethnology, Anthropological Linguistics and is compulsory for all curricula as well as of the master’s degree program in European, American, and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures (Estudios Ibéricos e Iberoamericanos). It aims to provide the knowledge required for reflecting and operating on language and languages from an anthropological point of view, with particular attention to the topic of the linguistic landscape, that is to say the configuration of an anthropic space on the basis of the displayed written texts.

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to rigorously frame the question of the relationship between languages and cultures in light of the anthropologically salient linguistic phenomenology. Specifically, students are expected to acquire a general knowledge of the history, theories, methods, and fields of application of Ethnolinguistics and a thorough knowledge of the ways in which displayed written texts delineate a linguistic landscape and of the related themes of plurilingualism, language attitude and ideology, linguistic identity, and language policy and planning. Students are also expected to acquire the ability to expose issues and problems relevant to Ethnolinguistics using appropriate terminology.

The course requires basic knowledge of general linguistics. These notions will be recalled during the classes for those who have not previously attended a basic linguistic course. As an alternative, the reading of G. Berruto, M. Cerruti, La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo, Torino, 2017 (chapters 1-5) is suggested. The course also requires the ability to understand English written texts and a good knowledge of the Italian language for foreign students.

The first part of the course will cover the following general contents: the history of Ethnolinguistics; the relationship between language and culture; the social dimension of language; the communicative dimension of language; culturally significant functions and uses of language. The second part of the course will focus on linguistic landscapes and, in particular, will analyse their actors, methods, aims, and results from a cultural and social perspective, with examples from various regions of the world.

1. Reference manuals
G. R. Cardona, Introduzione all’etnolinguistica, Novara, 2006 (sections 3.1.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 7.4, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5).
M. Mancini, B. Turchetta (eds.), Etnografia della scrittura, Roma, 2014 (chapters 2, 6, and 7).

2. Further readings
2.1. Language and culture
F. Boas, Handbook of American Indian Languages, I, Washington, 1911, pp. 5-83.
E. Sapir, The Status of Linguistics as a Science, in «Language» 5, 1929, pp. 207-214.
B. Malinowski, Coral Gardens and their Magic, II, London, 1935, pp. 3-74.
B. L. Whorf, The relation of habitual thought and behavior to language, in Language, Culture, and Personality, Menasha, 1941, pp. 75-93.
C. Lévi-Strauss, L’analyse structurale en linguistique et anthropologie, in «Word» 1, 1945, pp. 1-21.
C. Lévi-Strauss, Linguistics and Anthropology, in Results of the Conference of Anthropologists and Linguists, Baltimore, 1953, pp. 1-10.
K. L. Pike, Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behaviour, The Hague-London, 1967, pp. 1-7.
B. Berlin, P. Kay, Basic Color Terms, Berkeley-Los Angeles, 1969, pp. 1-45.
N. B. McNeill, Colour and colour terminology, in «Journal of Linguistics» 8, I, 1972, pp. 21-33.
D. Hymes, Foundations in Sociolinguistics. An Ethnographic Approach, Philadelphia, 1974, pp. 1-65.
T. Regier, P. Kay, Language, thought, and color: Whorf was half right, in «Trends in Cognitive Sciences» 10, 2009, pp. 439-446.
I. Krupnik, L. Müller-Wille, Franz Boas and Inuktitut Terminology for Ice and Snow: From the Emergence of the Field to the “Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax”, in I. Krpupnik, C. Aporta, S. Gearheard, G. J. Laidler, L. Kielsen Holm (eds.), SIKU: Knowing Our Ice, Dordrecht, 2010, pp. 377-400.
P. Wolff, K. J. Holmes, Linguistic Relativity, in «Cognitive Science» 2, 3, 2011, pp. 253-265.

2.2. Linguistic landscape
Bibliography forthcoming.

Learning will be assessed through an interview. The interview will focus on four general topics, which will be selected by the teacher:
- one from Introduzione all’Etnolinguistica (sections 3.1.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 7.4, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5);
- one from Etnografia della scrittura (chapters 2, 6, and 7);
- one from the further readings concerning Language and culture (2.1);
- one from the further readings concerning Linguistic landscapes (2.2).
It should be noted that the further readings will be framed and discussed during the lessons. The lecture slides, which will be regularly uploaded to the course's Moodle space, will serve as a guide to the key aspects of each text that require particular focus.
In particular, mastery of the topics, ability in presentation, terminological adequacy, and the ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective will be taken into account for evaluation.

oral

30–30 with distinction: Demonstrates an excellent mastery of the topics covered in lectures and reference texts; employs the discipline’s technical terminology with precision; exhibits an exceptional ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective.

28–29: Displays a very good understanding of the topics covered in lectures and reference texts; makes largely appropriate use of the discipline’s technical terminology; demonstrates a strong ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective.

26–27: Shows a good knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and reference texts; occasional inaccuracies in the use of the discipline’s technical terminology; moderate ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective.

22–25: Demonstrates a partial and/or somewhat superficial understanding of the topics covered in lectures and reference texts; presentation is not always clear and may show deficiencies in the use of the discipline’s technical terminology; exhibits a sufficient ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective.

18–21: Shows an incomplete but sufficient understanding of the topics covered in lectures and reference texts; presentation is unclear and/or lacks appropriate use of the discipline’s technical terminology; exhibits a limited but still adequate ability for independent reflection on linguistically significant phenomena from an anthropological perspective.

Classroom-taught classes with the help of presentations for reading and commenting on excerpts from the further readings.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development