GERMAN LANGUAGE

The course is part of the core educational activities of the MA degree program LLEAP. It aims at:

- improving the students' written and oral skills at the C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;

- analysing a series of phenomena typical of the German language (connetive adverbs; modality; modal particles; Pro-Formen) from a descriptive and German/Italian contrastive perspective;

- developing translating competences in the direction German-Italian, with a special focus on the phenomena discussed in the course.

Attending the course, taking actively part in it, and learning individually, students will gain:

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- Active and passive knowledge of the German language in its morphological, syntactic and semantic aspects (C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
- Knowledge of some of the most difficult (from a German/Italian perspective) phenomena of German;
- Knowledge of the main translating techniques for the translation in the direction German-Italian.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Summarize (both in written and oral form) the contents of scientific texts on German language
- Ability to discuss (both in written and oral form) evident and implicit theses of a scientific text
- Ability to describe the linguistic phenomena discussed in class and to point at the differences with Italian;
- Abililty to apply the translating techniques discussed in class to the translation of German texts.

3. Ability to judge:
- Ability to evaluate and compare the ideas presented in scientific papers on the German language as well as to justify the own, critical position;
- Ability to evaluate the correctness of the linguistic phenomena discussed in class;
- Ability to judge the grammar and stylistic correctness of alternative translations in the direction German-Italian.

4. Communicative skills:
- Ablity to present in class the topics dealt with in a scientific text;
- Ability to participate in seminars with other students and lecturers using proper linguistic and rhetorical tools
- Ability to report on linguistic topics, with a correct use of the linguistic terminology and from an Italian/German contrastive perspective;
- ability to correctly translate German texts into Italian.

5. Ability to learn:
- Taking notes and sharing them in a collaborative form with other students
- Consulting critically the texts of reference and the bibliographies contained therein, also as a preparation for writing a master’s thesis
- Ability to learn through the work of translating and through the critical evaluation of possible alternatives.

Knowledge of the German language as requested by the regulations of the degree course Foreign languages and literatures (LLEAP):
min. 24 ECTS L-LIN/14 Language and translation - German;
Required language level: C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Contents of the language assistants' classes:
- Exercises on written and oral skills at the C2 level of the CEFRL
- Techniques of writing a summary based on scientific texts about German language, literature and culture
- Rhetorical and stylistic devices for writing summaries and developing academic speaking and discussion skills
- Analysis of complex scientific texts (from linguistics and/or German studies)

Specific contents of the lecturer's module:
The lecturer's module aims to discuss some of the most problematic phenomena of the German language from a comparative German-Italian perspective and to provide the basis for the translation of texts from German to Italian, with special emphasis on the phenomena covered in the course. The phenomena that will be discussed in the course are as follows:
- syntax, function and translation of German text connectors;
- modality in German: definition and translation of epistemic/non-epistemic modality; definition and translation of modal particles;
- types of passive in German (weden-Passiv; Zustandspassiv; bekommen-Passiv / Rezipienten-Passiv) and syntax, function and translation of the passive in written German;
- syntax, function and translation of the Pro-Formen of German (pronouns and Pro-Adverbien).
The translation part will take place through the translation of texts from different text types, including literary text.

*** Mandatory texts for Prof. Cognola's module ***
Cinato Kather, Lucia (2011), Mediazione Linguistica tedesco-italiano. Hoepli
Slides e materiali messi a disposizione sulla pagina Moodle del corso.

***Mandatory texts for the language exercises***
Materiali messi a disposizione sulla pagina Moodle del corso.

The exam will be articulated in two parts (over two consecutive days):

1. a written reading comprehension and summary of an essay/paper concerning German language, literature or culture (C2 level): 4 hours
2. answering questions on the specific contents of the lecturer’s module (trends in the grammar of contemporary German; synchronic variants and their diachronic and/or diatopic explanations): 2 hours

written

1) Regarding the manner in which grades will be awarded,:

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient adequacy and completeness in the answers and in the solving of the exercises with reference to the course's programme;
- sufficient ability to articulate the answers and solutions to the exercises in logical and clear form (also with relevant comparisons with Italian from a contrastive perspective);
- limited command of the specialist language of linguistics.

B. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- discrete adequacy and completeness in the answers and in the solution of the exercises with reference to the course's programme;
- discrete ability to articulate answers and solutions to exercises in a logical and clear manner (also with relevant comparisons with Italian from a contrastive perspective);
- discrete command of the specialist language of linguistics.

C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good adequacy and completeness in answering and solving the exercises with reference to the course's programme;
- good or very good ability to articulate answers and solutions to the exercises in a logical and clear manner (also with relevant comparisons with Italian from a contrastive perspective);
- good or very good command of the specialist language of linguistics.

D. Score 30 e lode will be awarded in the presence of excellent: i) adequacy and completeness in answering and solving the exercises with reference to the course's programm; ii) ability to articulate answers and solutions to the exercises in a logical and clear manner (also with relevant comparisons with Italian from a contrastive perspective); command of the specialist language of linguistics.

Interactive frontal teaching with seminar elements

Language of instruction: German