MENA337

042340

This course examines the complex and multifaceted interplay between language and politics. It explores the key topics that lie at the intersection of language and politics, including language choice as a manifestation of self and group identity, linguistic ideology, censorship and hate speech, the performance of ethnic and national identity in language, gender politics and powerful language, rhetoric and propaganda, and changing conceptions of written language.

Taking a broad sociolinguistic approach that incorporates theoretical frameworks such as pragmatics, interactional sociolinguistics, ethnography, Critical Discourse Analysis, and multimodal discourse analysis, we will consider the relationship between language and politics by investigating language use in various genres of political discourse, including speeches, debates, advertising, and print and broadcast media coverage of political events, focusing on how various linguistic features serve to shape political identities and stances.

The course aims toward refining students' critical and analytical abilities in the study of language in its social context. In addition to theoretical and topical readings, lectures, and class discussions, students take part in hands-on data analysis projects and group presentations. The course culminates in a final empirical research project, in which students pursue a topic of their choice related to the course in further depth. Findings will be presented in a formal paper and class presentation.

The course requires knowledge of basic sociolinguistic concepts covered in MENA/Anth/Ling 330 Language and Society in the Middle East. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you take 330 prior to this course, or take both simultaneously.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Undergraduate

CE - CL (Cross Listed)