ML3LP: Language and Power

Module code: ML3LP

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Federico Faloppa, email: f.faloppa@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to familiarise students with the linguistic means by which a whole range of persuasive texts can be analysed. We will also be considering the use of language as a powerful tool in itself, than can construe reality, preserve or challenge power, harm and discriminate individuals and social groups, enhance social conflict or foster social cohesion. To do this, we will investigate a range of genres, discourses (among which socio-political, economic, media, and medical discourse), and theoretical approaches, including Critical Discourse Analysis, Conversation Analysis, Argumentation Analysis. We will look at stylistic and rhetorical features, linguistic creativity and language “play”, linguistic prescriptivism and political correctness, and more in general techniques for disclosing a text’s underlying ideological stance and power relationships. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Analyse linguistically and stylistically a wide range of discourse types and literary genres from different periods and varieties, with a particular focus on 20th - 21st century material;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, stylistic and rhetoric; and the power of language to move emotions and to elicit responses
3. Critically explore issues of manipulation, bias, ideology and power;
4. Demonstrate meta-linguistic awareness and vocabulary, and use this to analyse everyday conversational strategies

Module content

Lessons will be devoted to acquire analytical frameworks, examine a range of discourse types in order to understand the power of language, apply methodologies and analytical skills to design original research. Concepts of style and rhetoric will also be discussed, as well as issues of linguistic creativity and language play in both literary and non-literary texts, issues of manipulation, bias, ideology in discourse; a broader sociolinguistic and discourse analysis perspective will underpin discussions of power relationship in social interactions.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, and research project supervision, for which students will carry out preparatory reading. Seminars will be delivered in structured group discussions. Students may also undertake an academic placement, through which they will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the module in a professional context outside the University.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will have the opportunity to contribute to participate in group discussions/seminars and departmental research seminars, and to give and receive feedback about other formative activities.

Reassessment

Additional costs