Linguistics and Cultural Studies
- Published: Thursday, 06 August 2015 09:51
Linguistics and Cultural Studies is an optional course read at master’s level and taught within the course in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication.
The aim of this course is to improve the level of the awareness in the sphere of linguistics compared to the knowledge, obtained at the previous level as well as to acquire communication skills suffice to cover professional needs in the area of linguistic research and for further self training.
Course structure:
The total working intensiveness is 72 academic hours including class work (seminars) - 16 hours, self-instruction work – 56 hours. ECTS equals 2. At the end of the course the students are to take a credit course test.
Previous studies required:
Social Linguistics, Linguistics, History of Linguistics.
Course description:
The Course helps obtain a broad understanding of linguistics and cultural studies as a unique area that merges specific knowledge and practical skills, that are highly relevant to the business sphere and help reach a higher level of proficiency in chosen occupation.
When doing this course, the students receive knowledge and skills that will come in handy with text analysis and discourse studies as well as with studying cognitive linguistics and semiotics.
While mastering the academic discipline Linguistics and Cultural Studies develop their understanding of key contemporary cultural and social concerns. The course provides students with the opportunity for oral class discussion of cultural studies and its various nuances along with the with the opportunity to articulate their views on key cultural issues through supplementary reading and essay writing.
Students also study and analyze common European framework of reference and learn to use it when creating study programs or study guides. Besides, the students are taught to describe the way the present day language system is developing which helps them apply the acquired skills to the related spheres in a creative way.
Course outcomes:
On completion of the course the students will be able to
- understand how to approach the study of language scientifically;
- use linguistic data effectively to test a hypothesis, or to construct an argument;
- articulate the difference between studying language as an internal object in the mind (i.e., our linguistic competence) vs. as an external one (i.e., language use in society);
- understand core subfields in linguistics (syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics and phonology);
- conduct independent research of a theoretical and/or empirical nature, focused on language;
- understand how culture affects communication;
- identify barriers to effective cross cultural communication;
- improve their language speaking skills.
Learning methods: IT methods, case studies, cross cultural negotiation and dispute resolution.
