THEORY OF LANGUAGE

The course aims to provide students with basic knowledge related to the major debates and the most relevant issues in the theory and philosophy of language: a) diversity of languages vs. uniqueness of language; b) origin of language: discontinuistic vs. continuistic hypotheses; c) the sign, the semiosis and the symbolic dimension; d) the relationship between language, mind and world, and the most relevant theories of meaning; e) the problems posed by language, mind and communication (human and animal).

The aim of the course is to develop an epistemological view, which studies the language with the help of specialized knowledge, but at the same time elaborates coherent, conceptually well organized and structured perspectives.

Frontal lessons, brainstorming and classroom exercises.

Diversity of languages and uniqueness of language

Semiotic universes and the centrality of the sign.

Signs, intentions, interpretations.

The speaking animal: language, languages and symbolic dimension.

Origins and evolution of language: continuous and discontinuous hypotheses.

Voice, gesture and word.

Behavior and theories of the mind.

Syntax, semantics and pragmatics: theoretical problems.

The words between memory and project

The natural interactivity of words

The complexity of using words

Articulated and creative semiotics/The limits of linguistic and semiotic creativity

The problem of understanding and theories of conversational interaction.

Understanding: linguistic, semantic, pragmatic and socio-semiotic aspects.

1. Michael C. Corballis, La verità sul linguaggio (per quel che ne so), Roma, Carocci, 2020, pp. 264.
2. Tullio De Mauro, Prima lezione sul linguaggio, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2002, pp. 120.
3. Federico Faloppa, Brevi Lezioni sul linguaggio, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2019, pp. 222.
4. Alfredo Paternoster & Valentina Pisanty (ed.), La comprensione linguistica, Milano, Mimesis, 2019, pp. 176

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 books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.