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Italian Varieties and Dialects

Module description

Italy offers a fascinating range of languages and varieties. Italian, the national language, has been standardised very late and dialects of Italy which are not varieties of Italian but different Romance languages, are still widely spoken. In this module you are introduced to the actual linguistic structures of social and regional varieties of Italian, those of the Italian dialects and to language contact between Italian and the dialects of Italy. A wide range of linguistic examples from these varieties are presented and discussed; both texts and audiovisual excerpts are analysed.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The Italian linguistic situation is characterised by a high diversity and variation. Italy offers a fascinating range of languages and varieties. Italian, the national language, has been standardised very late and dialects of Italy which are not varieties of Italian but different Romance languages, are still widely spoken. In some areas even minority languages are spoken. This module focuses on some of the main aspects of this diversity. In particular, you are introduced to popular and regional Italian, social variation, the language of media, dialects of Italy, and Italian varieties spoken abroad and by immigrants in Italy. A wide range of linguistic examples from these varieties are presented and discussed; both texts and audiovisual excerpts are analysed. In addition, you are expected to explore specific case studies and data according to your own interests and experiences of Italy (e.g. during the year abroad). You are introduced to linguistic concepts and terminology as well as the fundamental principles of Italian sociolinguistics, language change and diversification.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a good understanding of sociolinguistic variation and multilingualism in Italy
• 2. Identify linguistic features of Italian varieties and use of appropriate linguistic terminology

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Understand linguistic concepts and apply them to the analysis of Italian varieties and dialects
• 4. Demonstrate familiarity with the structure and style of research literature on Italian linguistics in
• 5. With minimum guidance from the tutor, apply and evaluate critical approaches to the material under
• 6. Use a full range of printed and computer-based learning resources

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Participate in discussions and team work
• 8. Develop analytical skills and use them to solve problems
• 9. Demonstrate enhanced presentation skills, written and oral

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction: Italian today; a historical overview
• Diastratic varieties: italiano popolare, italiano colto
• Neostandard, italiano colloquiale, language of young people, the language of media, etc.
• Written/spoken Italian
• Italian dialects 1: Northern dialects
• Italian dialects 2: Tuscan dialects
• Italian dialects 3: Central-southern dialects
• Regional Italian
• Italian abroad
• Immigrants' Italian

Learning and teaching methods: 

Lectures and seminars; handouts and basic reading during seminars; private study with further reading and 
use of electronic resources

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Coveri, L, Benucci A. & Diadori, P. 1998. Le variet dell'italiano. Manuale di sociolinguistica italiana. Siena: 
  Bonacci
• Grassi, C., Sobrero, A. & Telmon, T. 2003. Introduzione alla dialettologia italiana. Bari: Laterza
• Lepschy, Anna Laura & Lepschy, Giulio. 1988. The Italian Language Today. London: Routledge
• Maiden, M. & Parry, M. The Dialects of Italy, London, Routledge, 1997 
• Maiden, M. 1995. A Linguistic History of Italian. London: Longman
• Marcato, Carla. 2002. Dialetto, dialetti e italiano. Bologna: il Mulino
• Sobrero, A. 1993. Introduzione all'italiano contemporaneo. La variazione e gli usi. Roma-Bari: Laterza
• Tosi, Arturo. 2001. Language and society in a changing Italy. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1408

Key words search

Italian, dialects