Overview

What language is used in Italy today to represent alterity/otherness? How is it related to the major social-political changes that have taken place in modern and contemporary Italy? This module will investigate how major socio-political changes that have taken place in modern and contemporary Italy (immigration to Italy from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, globalization, the changing role of women and LGBT(QI) communities, the rise of new mass parties) impacted the representations of ‘the other’ and our language practices. The design of this module combines a linguistic approach and a focus on cultural/sociological themes. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the uses of Italian language that convey discourses on alterity in Italy within an historical perspective.

This module may cover the following topics:

• Regional Italian (regional variation in the use of Italian language) and Identity.
• Language and Gender (sexism and discrimination in the Italian language).
• Language, Race and Ethnicity (representation of people with different ethnic backgrounds and/or skin-color, migrations).
• Language and Religion (representation of other religious beliefs).
• Political Parties (populism and demagoguery in Italian political discourse e.g. Forza Italia, Lega Nord).

Each of these areas will be analysed through the linguistic analysis of a variety of texts, including newspaper articles, political discourse, films, literary texts, and online production.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold --D. Basic grasp of key issues around language in relation to cultural themes (multiculturalism, gender equality, discrimination, etc.); understanding of the debates and themes around the representation of ‘alterity’ in modern and contemporary Italy and the interrelation between linguistic changes and socio-historical changes; basic understanding of the theoretical perspectives. Limited ability to provide a textual/linguistic analysis of primary materials (including newspaper articles, political discourse, literary texts, etc.) and contextualize them within the theoretical and historical framework. Students will also show an awareness of accepted academic conventions.

-good --B. Good grasp of key issues around language in relation to cultural themes (multiculturalism, gender equality, discrimination, etc.); understanding of the debates and themes around the representation of ‘alterity’ in modern and contemporary Italy and the interrelation between linguistic changes and socio-historical changes; good understanding of the theoretical perspectives. Some ability to provide a textual/linguistic analysis of primary materials (including newspaper articles, political discourse, literary texts, etc.) and contextualize them within the theoretical and historical framework. Students will also show familiarity with accepted academic conventions.

-excellent --A. Excellent grasp of key issues around language in relation to cultural themes (multiculturalism, gender equality, discrimination, etc.); solid understanding of the debates and themes around the representation of ‘alterity’ in modern and contemporary Italy and the interrelation between linguistic changes and socio-historical changes; excellent understanding of theoretical perspectives. Excellent ability to provide a textual/linguistic analysis of primary materials (including newspaper articles, political discourse, literary texts, etc.) and contextualize them within the theoretical and historical framework. Students will demonstrate originality in their work, as well as full competence concerning academic conventions.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop an understanding of relevant interpretive and theoretical approaches from within the fields of Linguistics and Cultural Studies to unpack and enrich the analysis of primary texts and cultural material examined throughout the course.

• Engage in close, critical analysis of a range of primary source materials (including Italian newspapers, songs, video interviews, etc.), and in light of relevant theoretical frameworks.

• Generate sustained and structured arguments in presentations, informal debates, and essays supported by literary, cinematic and historical evidence.

• Identify and evaluate the interrelation between linguistic changes and the historical and cultural contexts in which primary texts were produced.