Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LI Il bello dell’italiano: historical and social aspects of the Italian languages
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Modern Languages
Module Code	09 39281
Module Lead	Paolo De Ventura
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	By referring to the idiomatic expression \"il bello\" (meaning both beautiful and peculiar), this introductory module will clarify what makes today's Italian unique in the panorama of the Romance languages. The peculiarity of today's Italian, \"il bello dell'italiano\", lies in its being a language historically modelled after \"beauty\", that is, the words and the grammar of the poets who looked at Dante as the \"father of the Italian language\". The students will analyse a selection of iconic texts that, while building the literary canon, did shape the standard of contemporary language. The linguistic perspective is completed by a meaningful survey of regional varieties and socio-stylistic registers. This will make the students realise why it is possible today to talk of the \"Italian languages\" in the plural: an essential understanding that will make them better equipped to overcome the linguistic impact of their Year Abroad. The lectures will be delivered partly in Italian, with support materials to ensure the full understanding of their language and content.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: discuss analytically a series of texts showing awareness of their relationship to the context in which they were first created;  demonstrate knowledge of the most iconic texts representing the Italian literary canon. work with their peers to examine set material and present their findings, in both English and Italian, in an accessible and constructive manner;  show an ability to read and understand written and spoken Italian, and to make a presentation in Italian at Intermediate level (Intermediate students only); show an ability to read and understand written and spoken Italian, and to make a presentation in Italian at Advanced level (Advanced students only);
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 10 minute recorded individual presentation in Italian (25%) 1 x 2,000 word essay in English (75%) Reassessment: Re-submit failed component(s)
Other
Reading List