GEOGRAPHY OF LANGUAGES

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

L00944

Academic Year of enrolment:

2023

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Related/Supplementary

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in LINGUISTIC MEDIATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Disciplinary Sector:

Geography

Language:

Italian

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

FERRARI FABRIZIO

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take the examination

Objectives

The geography of languages course aims to address the study of the relationship between languages, societies and territories, with the purpose of providing students with the tools for a better understanding of the role of linguistic expressions as a vehicle for identity affirmations, but, at the same time, as a means for the future development of culture in the context of increasingly demarcated dynamics in phenomena attributable to globalization.
The aim of the course is to give the student an understanding of languages as a distinctive ethnic character of individuals and as a qualifying element of the internal ties of different human communities.
Therefore, at the end of the course, the student should have acquired knowledge about the regional distribution of languages in the world context and should be able to understand the changes in the extension of the different languages over time and space, the linguistic policies developed in the different and transcalar contexts, and, finally, the processes of acculturation and deculturation in progress.

Contents

The course is intended as an in-depth study of the relationship between space and language, from a geographical point of view. First of all, an introduction of the main themes, concepts, keywords of cultural geography will be given. After studying the difference between linguistic geography and geography of languages, the course will focus on the second and through theories and empirical examples the course will analyze the connection between culture, cultural geography and languages.
Subsequently, after having outlined the cultural regions of the world, the course will proceed to provide a picture of the territorial distribution of the various national languages.
In a subsequent phase the course intend to highlight the relations of languages with political action (the processes of acculturation and deculturation; the expansion, contraction and disappearance of languages; the linguistic policies, the geopolitics of languages), providing concrete examples regarding minority languages .
Finally, the current and future intercultural and transcultural scenarios of the geography of languages will be traced, conveyed through linguistic contacts, international migratory movements. processes of globalization and digital spaces.

Extended Syllabus

The course will express the educational objectives that are set through a development in different parts, which will have the purpose of forming a systemic orientation framework for students of the relationship between geography, culture and languages in the world.
The first part will be dedicated to introducing the themes of geography and culture, as a basis for theoretical reasoning on which to build the subsequent development of the course.
In the following parts, specific insights will be held on the different languages, in particular by reconstructing past events, the current situation and the future prospects of some particularly relevant situations, also introducing themes of the geopolitics of languages.
Particular emphasis will be given to languages in Europe, but the different situations of other continents will also be illustrated, dedicating some insights to the evolutions over time and to contacts with other languages that occurred in historical periods such as colonial dominations.
Finally, the last part will be dedicated to the phenomenon of globalization, its influence on languages and, in particular, to international migratory movements and digitization.

Recommended Bibliography

References
1) Russo Krauss D., Lingue e spazi. Elementi per l'analisi geografica dell'espressione linguistica, Roma, Aracne ed., 2011
2) Del Zanna G. (a cura di), Geopolitica delle lingue, Santarcangelo di Romagna, Maggioli, 2018.

Teaching Methods

Lectures in the classroom supported by the use of slides.
The organization of deepening seminars about some specific topics could be envisaged.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The final examination is based on an oral interview aimed to certify the comprehension of the topics addressed during the course and as presented in the study program. Furthermore, the assessment is proposed to verify the ability to organize in a discursive and systemic way the acquired knowledge and the capacity to produce a critical debate on various case studies.
The evaluation of the examination is expressed with marks out of thirty.
It is possible to pass the examination with honours.

Contacts/More Information

Office hours:
Wednesday h 9-13
at the Department of Languages, Literature and Modern Cultures.
A specific communication channel has been provided for contacts in telematic mode.
In any case, please contact the professor for an appointment.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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