Advanced knowledge of English and American culture and language (European Level C1+). Advanced linguistic and analytical skills. Advanced knowledge of rhetoric, literary forms and kinds.

AIMS. Concomitantly with Language classes and labs (conducted by a team of mother-tongue instructors), this course is designed to introduce students to the basic notions of stylistics and semantics and their place in theories of language and writing, literary criticism and translation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES. By the end of this course successful students should: reach an advanced level of language skills and competence (European Level C2); master a variety of formal approaches to language (verbal communication) and codified texts (verbal art) in specific terms of "style" and "meaning"; employ them in skillful practices of close reading and interlingual translation of literary texts and writings.

"Stylistics and Semantics in Theories of Language and Criticism, Literary Writing and Translation".

Starting with some of the most authoritative statements in the fields of stylistics and semantics, from the debates of the early- and mid-twentieth century through the first decades of the present one, this course will address the place and nature of these branches of linguistic study and their contribution to literary theory, criticism, and translation. Against or along with the claim "that the goal of stylistics - an objective account of form and meaning - is an impossible one", or the belief that "stylistic preferences reflect cognitive preferences" and that "form and content correlate", questions of "style" and "meaning" will be explored in different bodies of literary forms, kinds and writings in the Anglo-American and Transatlantic tradition, in modern and post-modern times.

1.  (A) Paul Simpson, Stylistics, Routledge, London, 2004 » Selected chapters (A, pp. 1-21; B, pp. 50-59, 92-95; C, pp. 98-102, 108-113)

2.  (A) Lesley Jeffries, Daniel McIntyre, Stylistics, Cambridge UP, Cambridge, 2010 » Selected chapters (2.3.5. pp. 58-62; 7.2. pp. 175-185)

3.  (A) Morton W. Bloomfield, "Stylistics and the Theory of Literature" (New Literary History, Vol. 7, Baltimore, 1976) » pp. 271-311

4.  (C) Alan Cruse, A Glossary of Semantics and Pragmatics, Edinburgh UP, Edinburgh, 2006 » Selected entries.

The course is offered 100% in English - However, as a course in literary translation (interlingual), Italian is necessarily involved as the target language of translation practices.

In addition to the assigned textbooks (selected chapters from Simpson and Jeffries/McIntyre), selections from additional theoretical essays, literary texts and related materials will be indicated and provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course and in class.

• Lectures. In class-discussion and analytical sessions run by the teacher and, alternately, by students as section-leaders. In class-presentations and structured focus groups. Translation labs and digital humanities training and practice.

  
  

• WRITTEN AND ORAL. Language: English.

  Besides the written exams planned and scheduled in their Language classes and labs, students are expected to produce a short paper in English (with an interlingual translation of a brief literary text in Italian) consisting of a brief stylistic and semantic commentary (max. 800 words). The paper is due 3-4 days before the final exam. The final exam (oral) will be based on the submitted paper, which students are expected to illustrate and discuss, as well as on all the theoretical and critical readings related to the coursework.

  
  

  ASSESSMENT.

  Written exam (50%) - where the three sections "Reading" (1/3), "Writing" (1/3), and "Listening" (1/3) will be equally weighted.

  Final paper and oral exam (50%) - where the essay will be weighted 2/3 (organization and formal accuracy, analytical and terminological precision) while the oral exam will be weighted 1/3 (accuracy, fluency, and pertinence).

  
  

Italian (for interlingual translation in the target language)

English