LING 2036 - Language, Communication and Society

It can be argued that who we are and what we are able to achieve socially is determined by the range of different forms of language which we have at our disposal. If we want to be convincing in a tutorial we have to be able to sound "academic", and if we want to work as a lawyer we must first master legal language. This course explores the ways in which language varies according to subject area, social setting, communicative purpose and the social roles and identities of those involved. It examines the workings of various forms of speaking and writing - casual conversation, interviews and interrogations, public speaking, emailing and mobile phone texting and mass media articles, to cite just some examples. Students will study the nature of meaning, how we usually convey more than we actually say or write, the role of "politeness" in verbal communication, the necessarily "cooperative" nature of most forms of communication, and what makes texts cohesive and coherent. Students will develop skills in describing the stylistic properties of texts, in characterizing the interpersonal stances adopted by speakers and writers, and in identifying and classifying the various genres or texts types which operate in particular social settings.