English Language: specialized language
Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher:
RAFFAELE ZAGO
Expected Learning Outcomes
According to the Dublin descriptors, students, at the
end of the course, will demonstrate:
1) Knowledge and understanding
Students will familiarise themselves with the notion
of ‘specialised discourse’ in English from a theoretical, practical and
methodological point of view.
2) Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply their knowledge and
understanding. In particular, they will learn how to linguistically and
meta-linguistically analyse the varieties addressed in the course.
3) Making judgements
Drawing on the knowledge and skills acquired in the
course, students will be able to interpret the typical characteristics of various
specialised English registers and to reflect on these varieties autonomously.
4) Communication skills
The linguistic competence students are expected to
attain is a strengthening of the B2 level (Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages; C.E.F.R.; http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/source/framework_en.pdf).
5) Learning skills
Students
will develop the learning skills they need to go on with their university career,
both in terms of contents and in terms of methods.
Course Structure
The course will take place in the 1st semester. Classes (18) will
have in essence a lecture format, but participation on the part of students is
expected and will be actively encouraged. The calendar for classes will be
communicated during classes, on the lecturer’s webpage and through the Studium
learning platform. The lecturer will be available during office hours to answer
questions about the course.
Changes to the programme
might be necessary in case of online teaching.
Required Prerequisites
-B2 competence in English under the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (C.E.F.R.).
-Awareness of the main levels of linguistic analysis.
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is not compulsory.
Detailed Course Content
The course will introduce and illustrate the notion of ‘specialised
discourse’ and its defining traits in English. The necessary theoretical
framing of the topic will be followed by ample exemplification, with particular
– but not exclusive – attention to the various spoken and written English
registers used in the university context.
Textbook Information
Gotti, Maurizio. 2011. Investigating Specialised Discourse. Third edition. Bern: Peter
Lang. Chapters: 1 (pp. 9-22), 2 (pp. 25-47), 3 (pp. 49-78), 4 (pp. 79-104), 5
(pp. 107-122), 6 (pp. 123-140), 7 (pp. 141-163), 8 (pp. 167-178), 9 (pp.
179-190), 10 (pp. 191-209).
Biber, Douglas. 2006. University Language. A Corpus-based
Study of Spoken and Written Registers. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John
Benjamins. Chapters: 3 (pp. 33-46), 4 (pp. 47-86), 5 (pp. 87-131), 6 (pp.
133-175).
Please remember that, in compliance with art 171
L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or
journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.
For further information on sanctions and regulations
concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee
Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione
Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle Opere dell’Ingegno (the Italian
Association on Copyright).
All
the aforementioned books can be consulted in the Library.
Course Planning
| | Subjects | Text References |
|---|
| 1 | 'Specialised discourse' in English: Preliminary notions | Gotti, Maurizio. 2011. Investigating Specialized Discourse. Chapter: 1 |
| 2 | The building blocks of specialised discourses in English: Lexical, syntactic and textual features | Gotti, Maurizio. 2011. Investigating Specialized Discourse. Chapters: 2, 3, 4 |
| 3 | Specialised discourses in English over time | Gotti, Maurizio. 2011. Investigating Specialized Discourse. Chapters: 5, 6, 7 |
| 4 | University registers in English: Vocabulary use, grammatical features, recurrent multi-word sequences, expression of stance | Biber, Douglas. 2006. University Language. Chapters: 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| 5 | Further examples and case studies | Gotti, Maurizio. 2011. Investigating Specialized Discourse. Chapters: 8, 9, 10 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Final oral exam (compulsory).
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
-What is 'specialised discourse' in English? How would you define it?
-What are the main characteristics of specialised discourses in English (e.g. lexical, syntactic, textual, etc.)?
-What are the most salient characteristics of spoken/written university registers in English?
-Etc.
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
