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Catalan Dialectology

Code: 105834
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OB 4
English and Catalan Studies OB 4
Catalan and Spanish Studies OB 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Mar Massanell Messalles
Email :
mar.massanell@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None.

Objectives

Describe the variation of Catalan language in the different territories in which it is spoken.

Learning outcomes

  1. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.
  2. Identify principal and secondary ideas and express them using correct language.
  3. Determine register types on the basis of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
  4. Identify causes of variation deriving from register.
  5. Apply the principles of correctness required in the standard language and the different registers and variants.
  6. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  7. Interpret texts in depth and provide standpoints from which to analyse them critically.
  8. Produce written work and oral presentations that are effective and framed in the appropriate register.
  9. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  10. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  11. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  12. Respect the opinions, values, behaviour and customs of others.
  13. Identify the linguistic differences between the various dialectal variants of the language.
  14. Distinguish between grammatical gender and natural gender.
  15. Identify the main and secondary ideas and express them with linguistic correctness.
  16. Properly apply the knowledge gained to data collection and management of documentary sources application to the study of Catalan language and literature.
  17. Work independently in the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  18. Identify the causes of variation derived from the register.
  19. Maintain an attitude of respect for the opinions, values, behaviors and practices of others.
  20. Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
  21. Use digital tools to collect, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the study of linguistic variety.
  22. Know the linguistic phenomena according to the social, geographical and stylistic variability of the Spanish language and know how to relate them to the normative.
  23. Be tolerant of linguistic diversity and richness.
  24. Describe the linguistic differences between the different dialectsz of the language.
  25. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  26. Strengthen the capacity of reading, interpretation and critical analysis of literary texts and language.
  27. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  28. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  29. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  30. Actively reflect on the ethical dilemmas of sociolinguistic research.
  31. Describe the linguistic differences between the distinct dialectal varieties of the language.

Contents

- Structuring the Catalan linguistic domain: dialects and subdialects.

- Phonic, morphological and syntactic properties of the great dialects.

- Dialect analysis of oral and written texts.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Flipped classroom, master classes, seminars 45 1.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Resolution of exercises / problems / cases, tutorials 27 1.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Preparation of individual / team work, study and personal work 75 3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

The dedication required to follow this subject of 6 ECTS credits is about 150 hours of student’s work, 45 of which spent in directed activities (flipped classroom, master classes, seminars), 30 in supervised activities (resolution of exercises / problems / cases, tutorials), 75 in autonomous activities (preparation of individual / team work, study and personal work) and 3 in in-class exams.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Written test 2 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Submission of a take-home paper 30% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Written test 1 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Active participation in class and carrying out complementary activities 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

The evaluation will be based on three evidence types:

- Attendance and active participation in class/conferences/complementary activities (10%).

- Delivery of exercises and work (30%).

- Two written test (30% and 30%).

At the beginning of each evaluation activity, the professor will inform the students about review of grade procedure and date. The minimum grade to pass the course is 5.

Students will be considered “non-assessable” unless they have submitted more than 30% of assessment items. To qualify for the second-chance test, two conditions must be met: (1) the student must have been evaluated of at least 2/3 of the total grade of the course and (2) he must have a continuous evaluation mark between 3.5 and 4.8. The second-change test will consist of a global test on the contents of the subject.

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

If tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Exchange students who request to sit an exam earlier must submit to the instructor a written document from their home university justifying this request.

Single assessment

The single assessment will be based on three types of evidence, which must be carried out or delivered on the same day:

- Resolution of a practice (10%).

- Delivery of a work (40%).

- Written test (50%).

Students under single-assessment must have completed all the planned activities to be eligible for a second-chance test.

The same second-chance test method as for the continuos assessment will be used.



Bibliography

Alcover, Antoni Maria & Francesc de Borja Moll (1926-68, 1975-19772 [1993]). Diccionari català-valencià-balear [DCVB], 10 vol. Palma de Mallorca: Moll. Accessible in: https://dcvb.iec.cat/

Alcover, Antoni Maria & Francesc de Borja Moll (1929-1932): «La flexió verbal en els dialectes catalans». Anuari de l’Oficina Romànica de Lingüística i Literatura, II [1929], p. 73-184; III [1930], p. 73-168; IV [1931], p. 9-104; V [1932], p. 9-72. Accessible in: https://alcover.iec.cat/

Associació de Sociolingüistes de Llengua Catalana (2007). La situació sociolingüística als territoris de parla catalana a l’inici del segle XXI. Barcelona: Secretaria de Política Lingüística de la Generalitat de Catalunya / Institut d’Estudis Catalans / Acció Cultural del País Valencià. Accessible in: https://llengua.gencat.cat/web/.content/documents/publicacions/publicacions_en_linia/arxius/llenguaisocietat_inicisxxi.pdf

Badia i Margarit, Antoni Maria (1951). Gramática histórica catalana. Barcelona: Noguer. Catalan translation: (1981 [19943]). Gramàtica històrica catalana. València: Tres i Quatre.

Badia i Margarit, Antoni M., Lídia Pons i Griera & Joan Veny (1993). Atles Lingüístic del Domini Català. Qüestionari. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Batlle, Mar, Joan Martí i Castell, Josep Moran & Joan Anton Rabella (2016). Gramàtica històrica de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.

Beltran Calvo, Vicent & Carles Segura-Llopes (2017). Els parlars valencians. València: Universitat de València.

Colomina i Castanyer, Jordi (1999). Dialectologia catalana. Introducció i guia bibliogràfica. Alacant: Universitat d’Alacant.

COM ensenyar català als adults. Suplement 6. Mapes per a l’estudi de la llengua catalana (1989). Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Cultura. Gabinet de Didàctica. Accessible in: https://drac.cultura.gencat.cat/handle/20.500.12368/15014#page=1

Coromines, Joan (1980-2001 [1995-2001]). Diccionari etimològic i complementari de la llengua catalana [DECat], 10 vol. Barcelona: Curial / La Caixa. Accessible in: https://decat.iec.cat/

Ferrando Francés, Antoni & Miquel Nicolás Amorós (2011). Història de la llengua catalana (Nova edició revisada i ampliada). Barcelona: Editorial UOC.

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2003). El català de l’Alguer: un model d’àmbit restringit. Barcelona: IEC. Accessible in: https://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000040/00000028.pdf

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (1990 [19993]). Proposta per a un estàndard oral de la llengua catalana, I. Fonètica. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000039/00000072.pdf

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (1992 [19994]). Proposta per a un estàndard oral de la llengua catalana, II. Morfologia. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000039/00000073.pdf

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (1999). Aplicació al català dels principis de transcripció fonètica de l’Associació Fonètica Internacional. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000041/00000087.pdf

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2018a). Proposta per a un estàndard oral de la llengua catalana, III. Lèxic. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000270/00000077.pdf

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2007). Diccionari de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Edicions 62 / Enciclopèdia Catalana. Accessible in: https://mdlc.iec.cat/

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2016). Gramàtica de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://giec.iec.cat/inici

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2017). Ortografia catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://oiec.iec.cat/inici

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2018b). Gramàtica essencial de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://geiec.iec.cat/

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2019). Gramàtica bàsica i d’ús de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://gbu.iec.cat/inici

Massanell i Messalles, Mar (2017). «Los atlas lingüísticos como fuente para estudios de sintaxis dialectal: el caso del Atles Lingüístic del Domini Català (ALDC)», Verba, 44, p. 271-315. Accessible in: https://revistas.usc.gal/index.php/verba/article/view/2949

Massanell i Messalles, Mar (2020). «Dialects», in Joan A. Argenter & Jens Lüdtke (ed.), Manual of Catalan Linguistics. Berlin: De Gruyter, p. 355-380.

Massanell i Messalles, Mar (2025). La desintegració del català nord-occidental (o la norma com a inductora de canvis lingüístics). Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.

Moll, Francesc de Borja (1952). Gramática histórica catalana. Madrid: Gredos. Catalan translation: (1991). Gramàtica històrica catalana. València: Universitat de València. Second Catalan edition, revised and annotated by Joaquim Martí Mestre, in collaboration with Jesús Giménez: (2006). Gramàtica històrica catalana. València: Universitat de València.

Nadal, Josep Maria & Modest Prats (1982 [19965]). Història de la llengua catalana. I. Dels inicis al segle XV. Barcelona: Edicions 62.

Nadal, Josep Maria & Modest Prats (1996). Història de la llengua catalana. II. El segle XV. Barcelona: Edicions 62.

Prieto, Pilar & Teresa Cabré (coord.) (2007-2012). Atles interactiu de l’entonació del català. Accessible in: http://prosodia.upf.edu/atlesentonacio/

Solà, Joan, Maria Rosa Lloret, Joan Mascaró & Manuel Pérez Saldanya (dir.) (2002). Gramàtica del català contemporani, 3 vol. Barcelona: Empúries.

Veny, Joan (1978 [199812]). Els parlars catalans. Mallorca: Moll.

Veny, Joan & Mar Massanell i Messalles (2015). Dialectologia catalana. Aproximació pràctica als parlars catalans. Barcelona/Alacant/València: Universitat de Barcelona / Universitat d’Alacant / Universitat de València.

Veny, Joan (1986 [19862]). Introducció a la dialectologia catalana. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana.

Veny, Joan (2007-2025). Petit Atles Lingüístic del Domini Català, 10 vol. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://aldc.espais.iec.cat/

Veny, Joan & Lídia Pons (1998). Atles Lingüístic del Domini Català. Etnotextos del català oriental. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://aldc.iec.cat/etnotextos-del-catala-oriental/

Veny, Joan & Lídia Pons (2001-2018). Atles Lingüístic del Domini Català, 9 vol. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Accessible in: https://aldc.espais.iec.cat/

Veny, Joan & Mar Massanell (2015). Dialectologia catalana. Aproximació pràctica als parlars catalans. Barcelona / Alacant / València: Universitat de Barcelona / Universitat d’Alacant / Universitat de València.

Software

None specific.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed