Language Technologies and Digital Humanities

This course is designed to provide:

1. a foundational knowledge of the key research areas in Romance Philology and Linguistics;
2. the conceptual and critical tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and effectively engage with major digital projects and resources developed in this field.

At the end of the course, students should ("Dublin Descriptors" in brackets):

1) be familiar with the topics covered in the lectures and in the materials indicated in the bibliography ("Knowledge and Understanding", "Learning Skills");

2) be able to critically evaluate the features, structure, and objectives of the main digital projects presented in class ("Applying Knowledge and Understanding", "Making Judgements");

3) possess and know how to use the terminology of the discipline ("Knowledge and Understanding", "Learning Skills", "Communication Skills").

The first part of the course will be devoted to strengthening students’ general knowledge of Romance philology and linguistics, as well as their traditional areas of application. Particular attention will be given to the critical editing of vernacular texts (tools and methods), and to the historical development of the Romance languages, with a diachronic perspective and a specific focus on the Italo-Romance and Gallo-Romance domains.

The second part of the course will consist of a critical survey of major Digital Humanities projects related to each of the two disciplinary areas (Philology and Linguistics), including their historical evolution.

The third part will be dedicated to the presentation and discussion of student papers on specialist scholarly articles (see below).

The scope and depth of the first and second parts will be adjusted according to students’ initial level of preparation (see above).

Lectures lasting a total of 36 hours (6 CFU). The content will be presented orally with the support of digital materials uploaded onto the Moodle platform.

Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

Expected knowledge and skills will be tested by means of:

1. the presentation in class of a short paper on one (or more) of the specialised essays proposed by the lecturer (alone or in a group);
2. an interview on the suggested bibliography, including the essays presented in class (see above);

Preparation will be considered adequate if the student will demonstrate:

1. critical knowledge and understanding of the topics;
2. ability to apply the acquired knowledge;
3. presentation skills, with vocabulary property (specialist and non-specialist lexikon);
4. ability to provide definitions.

The finale grade is expressed in thirtieths.

- the acquisition of an analytical view of the topics dealt with in class, together with a good critical understanding, proficiency in expression and specific language, will be assessed with very good to excellent marks (28-30 cum laude);

- a predominantly mnemonic or not well matured acquisition of the contents, as well as linguistic and logical skills that are not always adequate, will be graded from fair (21-24) to good (25-27);

- a minimum level of knowledge of the course content, combined with formative gaps or inadequate linguistic and logical skills, will lead to a pass mark (18-20);

- the absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course content, combined with inadequate linguistic and logical competence and formative gaps, will lead to an assessment of insufficient (<18/30).

For students with SLD or disabilities, please see the University's support [1] and assistance [2] arrangements ([1]https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disturbi-specifici-di-apprendimento-dsa/supportoopen_in_newopen_in_new, [2] https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disturbi-specifici-di-apprendimento-dsa/supportoopen_in_newopen_in_new), and in particular [3] the procedures necessary for support at the time of examination ([3] (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con).

The course will be in presence and the examination will be held in English.

Students are invited to register to the course page and its Moodle page. Moreover, students are invited to regularly check the notices on the lecturer's personal page and the e-mail as well.

Non-attending students should contact the lecturer for guidance on the programme and how to study it.

This course is also addressed to students who have included "Digital Italian Philology and History of Italian Language" in their career plan in previous academic years.