Postgraduate Language and Linguistics 2014-2015

This course introduces the theoretical frameworks used in analysing communication, enabling students to investigate social interaction, power relations, and the ways in which language is used in a variety of contexts. It provides a grounding in the precise analysis of language use, which will enable students to go on to investigate communication in a range of professional contexts during the MLitt programme.

This course examines interpersonal communication as the co-construction of meaning in face to face and written interaction.  Students will survey relevant literature relating to semiotics, pragmatics, language use and social psychology. By approaching the topic of communication from a range of academic viewpoints, students will be well prepared for the later stages of the MLitt programme.

Students will undertake an indivualised programme reading, discussion and analysis of communication in a range of professional contexts. This will guide students in problem solving in communication in their own professional context. It will encourage reflection on students' own communicative practice in their specific professional domain.

This course will identify various audiences, appropriate content and ways of communicating within organisations and institutions, with particular focus on the energy industry, law and law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare.  It will identify various purposes, types and modes of communication within organisations and institutions and consider communication plans as part of organisational and institutional strategic plans.

This course will provide students with an in depth understanding of discourse and communication in organisational contexts. It will enhance knowledge in core areas of communicative strategy in management and team interactions in business settings. Students will gain the skills to interpret and analyse goal driven language in professional communities across a variety of contexts. 

This course requires students to prepare a 12,000 word dissertation. By the end of the course students will have learned how to understand, synthesize and present data in an intelligent and intelligible fashion. Through guidance and supervision they will develop their academic writing skills in order to write and present an extended dissertation on a topic relevant to the course.