SIMPLE SENTENCE IN ITALIAN LANGUAGE: LEARNING SCHEME FOR A1 / A2

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.7220/2335-2027.7.6

The article focuses on the structure of the simple sentence in Italian in the sole perspective of language didactics. Assuming by definition that the simple sentence is the one gravitating around a single predicate, the methodology applied is of a comparative-contrastive nature. The aim of the analysis is in fact to treat the order of the elements of the proposition to the extent that might be relevant for native Lithuanian learners of Italian A1 level and, at least in part, A2. Despite the inherent difference between Italian and Lithuanian, consisting in the extremely complicated inflected structure of the latter, the study notes that in both languages the arrangement of the elements tends to rely on the bipolar opposition topic / comment (theme / rheme). All main models of declarative sentence are analysed, i.e. the ones where, in addition to subject and predicate, direct object, indirect object, circumstantial complements and predicative complements appear. A notable exception concerning word order is the interrogative sentence, where the subject-predicate inversion is normal in Lithuanian, where it is impossible in Italian (Lithuanian Kada Petras grįš? “When is Petras coming back?” cannot match Italian *Quando Petras torna?). In the case of a syntagm determinant + determined words are generally in the reverse order too. Lithuanian attribute precedes the noun (e.g., baltas vynas “white wine” and vino bianco), and the genitive phrase has its units in reverse order (e.g., telefono numeris “telephone number” and numero di telefono), as in English. It can be tentatively stated that, when the circumstantial complement is expressed by an adverb, this one precedes the term it refers to, as it can be in Italian (e.g., labai pavargęs “very tired” and molto stanco), but not when in the syntagm adverb + verb (e.g., daug dirba “he works hard” and lavora molto). The question of the position of the adverb is found to be particularly complex, so that in any case its coverage is beyond the scope of this study. As of the order of grammatical units, the different placement of clitic pronouns (which in Italian is much more rigid) should be emphasized, in particular when they are combined with the negative particle (e.g., man nepatinka “I don’t like” and non mi piace).