Admission requirements
Not applicable.
Description
Languages are often discussed as if there is a single, correct way to phrase a message. Yet we use language in a very diverse range of contexts and communicative situations (e.g., using speech or writing, writing an essay or a tweet, addressing a professor or a friend, communicating in public or private contexts) and we adjust our linguistic choices accordingly. What is deemed ‘good’ or ‘appropriate’ language/grammar in one context or situation may be ‘inappropriate’ in another.
In this course, we focus on such situational variation in English (and other languages) by discussing how language functions and is investigated at the level of text and discourse. We start by distinguishing among the core concepts of register, genre and style, and then turn to the question of how these language dimensions interact. Besides description of the systematic, structural differences among linguistic registers (including academic writing, face-to-face conversation, and electronic communication), this course also focusses on functional explanations for why situational features influence the forms of language. Foundational questions we address include:
What is the extent of register and genre variation within and across languages?
Is there a functional basis for linguistic variation between text types?
More specific topics include, but are not limited to:To what extent can the prescriptive rules of academic writing be considered arbitrary, as opposed to being grounded in functional/situational features?
What are the differences between scripted (e.g., TV dialogue) and spontaneous conversation?
How do literary genres (e.g., the novel) change over time, and to what extent might these changes be attributed to aesthetic or situational features?
What is personal style?
How do technological affordances (e.g., instant messaging dialogue bubbles) influence they way we understand intergenerational language change?
In the first half of the course, you participate in seminar discussions regarding textbook chapters that present theories and methods of discourse analysis.
In the second half of the course, you participate in peer-group workshops in which you conduct your own small-scale linguistic analysis with guidance from your instructor and 3-4 of your classmates. Weekly peer review sessions will support you througout the process of moving your research project from linguistic analysis to a concise essay written for a general audience. Through this process, we will examine the nature of scientific communication, and how it might be more effectively undertaken.
Course objectives
Understand theories and constructs related to linguistic variation
Investigate how language functions at the level of text and discourse
Apply qualitative and quantitative methods of discourse and genre analysis
Engage in independent research
Develop audience awareness for effective scientific communication
Write a multimodal essay
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar.
Research.
Assessment method
Assessment
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average of
Seminar participation score based on percentage of seminars attended with proper preparation.
3,000-word research-based essay at the end of the course. A score of 6 is required to pass the course.
Weighing
Seminar participation: 20%
End-of-term essay: 80%
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two tutorials means that students will be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
Resit
Students can take a resit if the final grade is below 5.49.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Biber, Douglas, & Conrad, Susan. (2019). Register, Genre, and Style. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
This textbook is available electronically via the university library: https://catalogue.leidenuniv.nl/permalink/f/1cnfioc/TN_cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC5879554
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Student administration Arsenaal
Remarks
Not applicable.