Discourse Analysis

COURSE OBJECTIVE
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of scientific approaches to analyze language in use

Knowledge and understanding of the key concepts in discourse analysis

Knowledge and understanding of how actions, identities and ideologies are constructed through language and how this is a contingent process

Being able to analyze different types of discourse using a variety of discourse analytic approaches

COURSE CONTENT
Content
In this course we examine how language (spoken, written, or computer mediated) and other multimodal resources (such as gestures, gaze, body movements) are:
1) structured (rather than random),
2) used to accomplish actions in the world (e.g. order a coffee, convince an employer to invite us for a job interview, inform passengers of a delay),
3) negotiate identities (getting recognized as a 'professional', 'father' or 'reasonable person') and
4) construct ideologies (systems of ideas or beliefs such as in neoliberalism, free trade, gender role ideology).

Various classic approaches as well as recent applications will be covered during this 6-week class. Besides a theoretical basis in discourse approaches, you will get hands-on experience in applying discourse analytic methods on real data. You will get access to specific software to transcribe and analyze discourse and learn how to gather data and about the ethical implications of doing so.

FORM OF TUITION
Lectures and discussion group (in total 6 hours a week)

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
70% Final exam
30% Project (transcription and analysis of data you recorded)

Both need to have a minimum grade of 5.5 In addition there will be short assignments graded as pass/no pass