Speech, Language & Sociolinguistics MSc
Critical Approaches to Language and Communication ENGLANG5124
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Critical Studies
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
In this course students are introduced to a variety of perspectives on language as socially-embedded practice and to the different research methodologies associated with these. Students will develop the skills to analyse and interpret texts of their own choosing, to critique these from a social perspective and to consider how discourse analysts can make a contribution to pressing social issues.
Timetable
10 x 2hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.
Excluded Courses
N/A
Co-requisites
N/A
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Practical skills exercise (Length of text/size of data base proportional to detail of mark-up) - 25%
■ Written Assignment (4000 words) - 75%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There is no alternative to the Practical skills exercise, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).
■ There is no alternative to the Written Assignment, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Introduce the fundamental assumptions of critical perspectives on language and communication and to outline the main theoretical and research trajectories which have been developed over the last half century;
■ Enable students to recognise the linguistic aspect of social contexts and the social relevance of linguistic theories
■ Provide practical skills in analysing and interpreting texts as socially-embedded practices
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Distinguish and evaluate the most significant approaches to critical linguistics in the last half century
■ Critically compare and evaluate seminal texts in the field
■ Develop and present critically informed research questions for the analysis of texts as socially-embedded practice
■ Identify and collect relevant data
■ Identify and carry out analytical methods appropriate to the data set and research questions