La “vita spericolata” della sintassi: il "che polivalente" nella canzone italiana tra gli anni ’70 e ’90 del Novecento
The “Reckless Life” of Syntax: Multipurpose "che" in Italian Songs between the 1970s and 1990s

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents findings from the planning and testing of a didactic unit for students of Italian as a second language, a unit that focuses on how to use the multipurpose word che (che polivalente). The materials used in this unit are Italian songs. The aim of this testing is to support the training of future language mediators, interpreters, and translators at the Department of Interpreting and Translation of the University of Bologna by raising awareness about a linguistic trait of the neo-standard, i.e., the new standard variety of Italian language. This paper examines the didactic context of testing, how it was carried out, and the phenomenon of the multipurpose che; it also attempts to classify the various cases of the che polivalente in two macro-areas. The outcomes of a quantitative analysis of the data gathered through monitoring are thought to provide evidence for how this practice of using songs may prove useful both in creating a positive atmosphere that fosters language acquisition, as well as in enhancing motivation based on the concept of pleasure. This may facilitate the processing of an otherwise incomprehensible linguistic input and lay the groundwork for further research on the subject, which may also allow for a broader study.

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