Multilingualism and Multiculturality

Course goals

After completing this course, the student will:

• have acquired familiarity with key concepts in the study of intercultural communication: management of linguistic diversity, linguistic aspects of cultural differences, language and identity, language and ideology, communicative strategies, and attitudes towards language.
• be able to distinguish and employ different approaches in the study of intercultural communication phenomena and multilingualism (analysis of linguistic and cultural diversity through a contrastive/comparative approach, discourse analysis).
• be able to analyze and evaluate scientific articles in the field of intercultural communication (linguistic approach).
• be able to formulate and present their ideas, both orally and in writing, using appropriate terminology in Italian and an adequate style.
• be able to identify interesting phenomena in the field of intercultural communication and translate these observations into a clear research question and appropriate methodology.

Content

This course examines the linguistic aspects of some key concepts in Italian culture, comparing them with similar concepts in Dutch culture and using recent theoretical approaches and research methodologies. By choosing the appropriate methodology (among those presented during the course), the student will be able to objectively describe a phenomenon typical of Italian culture and predict how it will be perceived and interpreted through the lens of Dutch culture. The theoretical component of the course will be complemented by practical service learning activities.

Additional information

Important note for students in the multilingual track of the MA Intercultural communication:
Students in the multilingual track of the MA Intercultural communication will be given the option to produce and turn in course assignments in English, regardless of the language used for teaching, reading, listening, and speaking in the course.
This arrangement is not applicable for the other students in this course