0001063 - Language and Power: English Discourse Analysis across Asian and African Cultures
insegnamento36
LINGUA E TRADUZIONE - LINGUA INGLESE
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Dati Generali
Periodo di attivitÃ
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
GENERAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
The course aims to develop students' critical and analytical skills in the use, interpretation, and variation of the English language within contemporary, complex global multilingual ecologies. Students will learn to recognize and deconstruct linguistic hierarchies, mechanisms of hegemony, and power dynamics through which varieties of English (both institutional and grassroots) interact with indigenous, regional, and contact languages. Furthermore, the course promotes an interdisciplinary understanding of language as a social and performative practice, exploring the role of English in the construction of post-colonial, regional, urban, or global identities, as well as in processes of socio-economic inclusion and exclusion. Students will acquire skills in sociolinguistic and structural analysis by integrating the examination of demographic data, fieldwork interviews, linguistic landscape analysis, and the use of linguistic corpora.
The linguistic level required for admission to the course is upper-intermediate/advanced, with the objective of developing and consolidating proficiency in English at a proficient level. The course focuses on the critical and analytical use of the English language within academic, scientific, and sociolinguistic research contexts, with particular attention to the interpretation and production of texts related to linguistic variation, language contact, and global communication.
By the end of the course, students must demonstrate a high level of linguistic competence, enabling them to produce coherent, academic, and well-structured written texts, and to participate fluently and confidently in discussions and presentations on the themes of language variation and multilingualism. Based on the theoretical knowledge and practical activities carried out in class, students will be able to interact effectively in various professional or research contexts and apply their skills in diverse domains of English language use (translation, mediation, textual and sociolinguistic analysis).
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Acquisition of critical and methodological tools to analyze the structural variation (phonetics, syntax, lexicon) of World Englishes and contact systems (creoles, pidgins). Understanding of the main sociolinguistic models of the spread of English (Kachru, Schneider) and theoretical models of linguistic ecology (Dominant Language Constellations).
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Ability to interpret specialized texts and empirical data (interviews, corpora, linguistic landscapes) and to produce advanced academic texts in English. Ability to apply the acquired sociolinguistic and analytical skills in international professional settings, cultural mediation, and translation.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Making judgements (Autonomy of judgment):
Ability to critically evaluate linguistic data, post-colonial dynamics, and complex language policies (e.g., Botswana and Cameroon contexts), formulating autonomous and scientifically grounded judgments on the relations between language, power, and identity, while overcoming Eurocentric or stereotyped views.
Communication skills:
Ability to present the results of sociolinguistic research and analysis in English (at a proficient level) in a clear, fluent, and register-appropriate manner. Skill in utilizing IT tools and multimedia supports for the presentation and visualization of academic data.
Learning skills:
Development of strong methodological autonomy in the study of international sociolinguistics and linguistic ecology, essential for both continuous self-updating and access to further advanced training or specialized research pathways.
The examination will be conducted in English.
The course promotes an inclusive and responsible approach toward linguistic diversity and non-standard varieties ("grassroots Englishes").
Prerequisiti
Understanding of English grammar and pragmatics
Capacity for critical analysis and autonomous study
Metodi didattici
The course is divided into two complementary parts. The first part consists of lectures and guided activities focusing on linguistic ecology models and the structural variation of global varieties of English. The second part is dedicated to the in-depth study of specific local multilingual ecologies through seminar discussions, empirical case studies (Africa, Asia, and global metropolises), and the practical analysis of data (interviews, corpora, and linguistic landscapes). Teaching methods combine lectures, collective analysis, multimedia materials, and in-class discussions.
Verifica Apprendimento
The examination is conducted entirely in English and assesses the achievement of the learning objectives in terms of both theoretical knowledge and advanced language and presentation skills. Following the first part of the course, which focuses on the theoretical models of linguistic ecology and World Englishes, attending students will engage in independent or small-group research activities using a flipped classroom approach. The assessment for attending students will consist of an oral presentation in English, supported by visual or multimedia materials. These presentations will allow students to critically apply the models they have learned, exploring specific local multilingual ecologies (e.g., case studies from Africa, Asia, or global metropolises) through a targeted analysis of authentic data (interviews, corpora, or linguistic landscapes). The evaluation will focus on the quality of scientific and sociolinguistic rigor, clarity of presentation, communicative effectiveness, and the accuracy of the English language. The scheduling of the presentations will be adjusted based on the number of students to ensure active participation from everyone. Non-attending students, on the other hand, will take a comprehensive oral exam on the full syllabus after the course concludes, designed to verify their knowledge of the theoretical models and their ability to critically analyze the empirical case studies detailed in the textbook.
Testi
- Selected papers from: World Englishes in their Local Multilingual Ecologies. Edited by Peter Siemund, Gardy Stein and Manuela Vida-Mannl. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2025.
Note for students: Students will be tested only on a selection of papers. To receive the specific list of the required papers, please contact the professor via email.
Contenuti
Particular attention will be dedicated to the global spread of English, language policies, multilingual communicative practices, and forms of power negotiation in postcolonial and transnational settings.
Main topics of the course:
Language, power, and globalization: English as a global language and as a symbolic, economic, and political resource; the relationship between mobility, globalization, and the spread of linguistic practices.
World Englishes and multilingual linguistic ecologies: The evolution of English within different sociolinguistic realities; the concept of multilingual ecologies and the coexistence of multiple languages in contemporary contexts.
Colonialism, postcolonialism, and linguistic hierarchies: The role of colonial expansion in the spread of English; the linguistic legacies of colonialism and the construction of power relations through language policies.
Language policies and language planning: Institutional choices regarding languages, the role of English in educational systems, administrations, and internationalization processes; the concept of Dominant Language Constellations.
Translanguaging, code-switching, and multilingual communicative practices: Analysis of hybrid linguistic practices as strategies for negotiating identity, social belonging, and power relations in multilingual contexts.
Grassroots Englishes and bottom-up linguistic practices: Emerging varieties of English developed by non-elite communities; the role of everyday linguistic practices in redefining linguistic norms and hierarchies.
Language, identity, and social inequalities: English as an instrument of social inclusion and exclusion; the relationship between language, prestige, social mobility, cultural belonging, and the construction of identities.
Case studies in contemporary linguistic ecologies: Analysis of multilingual African and Asian contexts, with a specific focus on the relationships between language, power, education, migration, and local communicative practices.
The course is based on the critical analysis of academic texts in English, case studies, language policy documents, and authentic materials from various multilingual contexts, promoting reflection on the role of English as a global language and on the power dynamics that characterize linguistically complex societies.
Lingua Insegnamento
Altre informazioni
The course, including the final examination, will be entirely conducted in English.