MA Linguistics / Course details

This course unit introduces students to the study of language as a resource that both shapes and is shaped by social actions and structures in the world around us. When we approach discourse as a form of social practice, we are able to understand and analyse how the everyday use of language can have material and ideological effects on individuals and our society.   

We will explore mainly qualitative approaches to studying discourse, and apply descriptive linguistic skills gained from existing modules, including pragmatics, and corpus linguistics. 

We will think critically about the social dimensions of language, analysing how meanings are (re)produced and how power can be (de)constructed through discursive practices in a variety of spoken and written contexts. Students will conduct an individual research project on a topic of their choice through which they will apply their theoretical understanding and analytical tools to real-world linguistic data.   

LELA62021 Semantics and Pragmatics (recommended)  

The principle aims of the course unit are as follows:  

1. To introduce students to key theoretical concepts of discourse as a form of social practice 

2. To provide students with qualitative analytical tools to analyse spoken and written language in their social context(s) 

3. To enable students to critically evaluate the relationship between language and society 

4. To provide students with experience of conducting an individual research project.  

Lectures will primarily introduce new topics, theories and concepts, and use small interactive group discussions, short analytical tasks, and polling platforms such as Vevox. 

Seminars will use group discussion to ensure understanding of key theories and concepts introduced in the lectures but will mainly focus on preparation for the two assessments for this module, particularly in sharing practical guidance for carrying out summative research projects. Two seminar hours will be dedicated to the student presentations themselves. 

In addition to face-to-face contact hours, all learning materials for the module, including seminar preparation materials, such as independent readings and individual data collection tasks, and lecture handouts and additional reading will be available on Blackboard, alongside assessment briefs and information. Discussion boards on Blackboard will also be used to enable students to initiate discussions with teaching staff and to work with their peers beyond contact hours, facilitating further discussions about readings and data excerpts. 

By the end of this course, students will: 

• Have knowledge of a range of scholarship in linguistics and related disciplines that approaches discourse as a form of social practice  

• Know the implications of this scholarship for our understanding of language and society, especially in relation to power and ideology 

• Understand how to appropriately apply qualitative methodologies to range of types of linguistic data. 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

• Critically evaluate theory and current research in discourse analysis   

• Independently justify the application of qualitative approaches to a range of linguistic data  

• Accurately describe linguistic phenomena in context  

• Confidently support discussion of the role of discourse as social practice in society with empirical evidence. 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

• Produce an independent research report  

• Collect and manage real-world linguistic data  

• Conduct qualitative linguistic analysis  

• Critically evaluate academic literature. 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

• Design and deliver an individual data-driven project  

• Engage in independent reflection  

• Confidently communicate in a group 

• Demonstrate an awareness of socially aware and responsible research 

• Effectively manage time. 

Fairclough, Norman. 2015. Language and Power. London: Routledge. 

Hart, Christopher (ed.). 2020. Researching Discourse: A Student Guide. London: Routledge. 

Thomas, Jenny. 1995. Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. Harlow: Longman. 

Baker, Paul. 2006. Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis. London: Continuum.  

Further reading will be recommended on Blackboard and in class.