Ukrainian Language and Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide a knowledge of the essentials of Ukrainian grammar (phonology and morphology) and to develop the ability to communicate, orally and in writing, in a number of straightforward situations. It also introduces students to some aspects of the culture and literature of modern and contemporary Ukraine.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: elementary knowledge of Ukrainian language; basic knowledge of modern and contemporary Ukrainian culture and literature. Applying knowledge and understanding: understanding familiar words and basic sentences; using simple phrases and sentences to talk about everyday topics; understanding and interpreting at least two Ukrainian literary texts in Italian translation.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The course introduces theoretical and practical knowledge of the Ukrainian language. During the lessons, the phonetic system will be presented and the essentials of morphology of nouns, adjectives, pronouns and the verb will be provided. Grammar lessons will be supplemented by conversation initiation. Ample space will also be given to various aspects of Ukrainian culture and everyday life to practice spontaneous use of the most common communicative structures and to learn and consolidate vocabulary. Classes in the second semester will be devoted to Ukrainian literature and to reviewing grammatical material learned in the first semester. Grammar study will be combined with the reading and content and stylistic analysis of some key texts of modern and contemporary Ukrainian literature. Authors covered include Taras Ševčenko, Mychajlo Kocjubinskyj, Lesja Ukrajinka, Vasyl' Barka, Vasyl' Stus and Serhij Žadan.
Grammatical themes:
1. Cyrillic alphabet: vowels and consonants
2. Pronunciation of vowels and consonants. Strong consonants and weak consonants, palatalization.
3. Gender of nouns. Nominative case.
4. Forms and functions of the Genitive case.
5. Forms and functions of the Dative case
6. Forms and functions of the Accusative case
7. Forms and functions of the Instrumental case
8. Forms and functions of the Locative case
9. Forms and functions of the Vocative case
10. Personal pronouns
11. Possessive
12. Main characteristics of adjectives
13. Main characteristics of the verb
14. The appearance of the verb
15. The past tense
16. The future tense
Learning Unit C
1. Taras Ševčenko, lyric poems
2. Taras Ševčenko, poem "Son"
3. Lesja Ukrajinka, "Song of the Forest"
4. Mykhajlo Kocjubyns'kyj "The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"
5. Literature of the 1920s: Pidmohyl'nyj and Domontovyč
6. Vasyl' Barka "The Yellow Prince."
7. Ukrainian poetry between 1960 and 2000
8. Ukrainian poetry post 2014
9. Serhij Žadan, lyric poems and the short story "The Class"
10. Crimean history and culture
Grammatical themes:
1. Cyrillic alphabet: vowels and consonants
2. Pronunciation of vowels and consonants. Strong consonants and weak consonants, palatalization.
3. Gender of nouns. Nominative case.
4. Forms and functions of the Genitive case.
5. Forms and functions of the Dative case
6. Forms and functions of the Accusative case
7. Forms and functions of the Instrumental case
8. Forms and functions of the Locative case
9. Forms and functions of the Vocative case
10. Personal pronouns
11. Possessive
12. Main characteristics of adjectives
13. Main characteristics of the verb
14. The appearance of the verb
15. The past tense
16. The future tense
Learning Unit C
1. Taras Ševčenko, lyric poems
2. Taras Ševčenko, poem "Son"
3. Lesja Ukrajinka, "Song of the Forest"
4. Mykhajlo Kocjubyns'kyj "The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"
5. Literature of the 1920s: Pidmohyl'nyj and Domontovyč
6. Vasyl' Barka "The Yellow Prince."
7. Ukrainian poetry between 1960 and 2000
8. Ukrainian poetry post 2014
9. Serhij Žadan, lyric poems and the short story "The Class"
10. Crimean history and culture
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held partially in Ukrainian. All the materials and bibliography for the final exam do not require any precedent competences.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods adopted consist of lectures, group work, written and oral assignments.
Teaching Resources
Oleg Rumyantsev, Lingua ucraina. Corso teorico-pratico, Aracne, 2017
Giovanna Brogi, Oxana Pachlovska, Taras Sevcenko: Dalle carceri zariste al Pantheon ucraino, Mondadori education, 2015
Mychajlo Kocjubinskyj, Le ombre degli avi dimenticati, Apice libri, 2014
Lesja Ukrajinka, Il canto della foresta, a cura di Yaryna Grusha, Mondadori 2024
Vasyl' Barka, Il principe giallo. Lo sterminio per fame dei contadini in Ucraina, Pentagora, 2016
Poeti d'Ucraina a cura di Alessandro Achilli e Yaryna Grusha, Mondadori Specchio, 2022
Dimensione Kyiv a cura di Yaryna Grusha, BUR-Rizzoli, 2023
Giovanna Brogi, Oxana Pachlovska, Taras Sevcenko: Dalle carceri zariste al Pantheon ucraino, Mondadori education, 2015
Mychajlo Kocjubinskyj, Le ombre degli avi dimenticati, Apice libri, 2014
Lesja Ukrajinka, Il canto della foresta, a cura di Yaryna Grusha, Mondadori 2024
Vasyl' Barka, Il principe giallo. Lo sterminio per fame dei contadini in Ucraina, Pentagora, 2016
Poeti d'Ucraina a cura di Alessandro Achilli e Yaryna Grusha, Mondadori Specchio, 2022
Dimensione Kyiv a cura di Yaryna Grusha, BUR-Rizzoli, 2023
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral examination is divided into three parts. As the first test, a Ukrainian language text will be offered for the student to read in order to test the notions of phonetics, ortho-epics and grammar studied during Unit A. The second test is devoted to a short conversation in Ukrainian (five to six sentences) with the teacher. The topics covered in the conversation, including the necessary vocabulary, will be covered during the course. The third test consists of some questions on the literary topics covered in Unit C. The third test is taken only by students who have chosen to take the 9 CFU exam.
There are no intermediate tests. The final grade will be proposed at the end of the three tests and the student will have the option of accepting it or not. In case the student decides not to accept the grade, he/she may retake the exam in one of the subsequent appeals.
There are no intermediate tests. The final grade will be proposed at the end of the three tests and the student will have the option of accepting it or not. In case the student decides not to accept the grade, he/she may retake the exam in one of the subsequent appeals.
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours