The course aims to describe the properties of language, the objectives and methods of the various theories of linguistics. This course will explore the study of historical and theoretical linguistics, the characteristics of communications, the relationship between language and culture. A special section of the course will cover the different levels of linguistics analysis (phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon and semantics). A series of appropriate exercises will allow the students to comprehend and to apply the theoretical notions.

Required text: G. Berruto, Corso elementare di linguistica generale, Torino, Utet, 2005