Aims

ability to carry out etymological research in the field of Italian
ability to identify the principal developments in the transition from Latin to Italian
ability to identify similarities between Italian and French
contribute to the development of an Italian course based on new methods of intercomprehension and on the structural similarities between Italian and French.

Main themes

Introduction to the diachronic linguistic study of Italian
Introduction to problems of intercomprehension
study of contrastive phenomena (French - Italian)

Content and teaching methods

The basics of diachronic linguistics is examined. The birth of Italian is studied. For the oral examination, students prepare a short text that they are expected to analyse etymologically. A guest specialist from the University of Amsterdam will give part of the course. Linked to this part of the course will be a study of phenomena of intercomprehension. The diachronic understanding learned in the first half helps to better understand the similarities between Italian and French. The first half is mainly lectures, with exercises; the second part of the course requires students to participate actively.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation: written report on etymological research, research on a theme related to intercomprehension, and oral presentation.
Resources: Internet site, intercomprehension manual, list of articles.

Other credits in programs