The module considers both the politics of language, with ‘politics’ being broadly defined. Coverage includes how language is itself subject to political struggle, focusing on how ideas about language are wrapped up in debates about citizenship and nationality, about social class, standards and ‘educatedness’, and about how we should talk about social difference. Identity and the role of language in identity work, is also a key theme. Overall, the module aims to answer two key questions: : 1) how is language used to create and maintain power? 2) how are ideas about language related to iodeas about political and social power? 3) how is language involved in identity work and what social/ political implications might this have?
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Describe and interpret the language of individuals and/or institutions in terms of critical theories of political communication.
Discuss, compare and evaluate critical theories of communication, identity and ideology in the context of language..
Discuss and evaluate arguments concerning relationships between language and nation and about language ‘standards’ in the context of issues of identity, structure and agency.
Reflexively discuss the political functions of language and of linguistic inquiry.
