Course

Language, Institutions, and Power

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Communications
Course code
CMNS 3100
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course gives students practice in using analytical approaches to the study of language and power to examine how language constructs ideology, institutions, and identity in the contexts of enduring struggles (e.g. struggles over human rights for prisoners, gays, women, the homeless, people with disabilities, language and cultural identity, and the environment). Readings on the theoretical perspectives that inform these approaches are combined with applications to enduring struggles between less powerful groups and institutions (e.g. the penal system, the law, governments, the medical system, corporations, the scientific community, and academia). Students leave the course with analytical tools that would be relevant in a wide range of disciplines as vehicles of inquiry and research, and with knowledge that will contribute to their civic and social awareness.
Course content

Instructors will give students a representative sample of current theories of critical discourse analysis, rhetorical genre analysis, and pragmatics analysis, as well as case study readings focused on enduring struggles between marginal and mainstream groups. The course will cover selected key concepts from these three theoretical orientations:

Theory

Rhetorical Genre Theory

  • the rhetorical situation
  • the persuasive appeals
  • complex audience analysis: reception theory
  • identification and division
  • genre theory and genre analysis
  • classical and conciliatory arrangements

Critical Theory

  • discourse/discursive formations
  • language and identity construction
  • ideology
  • linguistic appropriation
  • dialogism/interdiscursivity
  • linguistic and symbolic capital

Pragmatics                                                            

  • audience design
  • background knowledge/knowledge structures
  • politeness and modality (face-saving language)
  • the cooperative principle

Any single version of the course will apply the three theoretical perspectives and related analytical approaches to both readings and empirical research on a salient enduring struggle.

Writing

  • genre features of academic writing (summary, essay, research paper genres)
  • invention and revision strategies

Speaking

  • features of academic presentations
  • strategies for addres