Words of the school: quinquemestre / pentamestre, semestre / esamestre

Abstract

This article examines the words used in the school environment to indicate the school periods of five months (alternative forms quinquemestre and pentamestre) and six months (semestre and esamestre). A presentation of the data concerning the chronology and areal diffusion of these expressions is followed by an investigation of their origins and a discussion of which words are best suited on the basis of the lexical microsystem to which they belong.