Overview

The way we use language to communicate has changed considerably over the past couple of decades, not only due to rapid technological developments around the web and social media, but also related to global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. This module offers an opportunity to critically examine the communicative principles that govern these developments, and to question seemingly harmless common practices by considering their effects. All sessions will be highly interactive and offer students plenty of opportunities to practice their communicative skills. Assessments will be flexible, including options for group-based or individual presentations as well as a choice of communication mode for the final assignment. This will allow students to demonstrate their communication skills in a chosen mode of specialisation.

After discussing some theoretical models of linguistic communication, lectures will consider the variability of communication across contexts and modes, and then address how communication is often framed through metaphors and word choices. The next three lectures will look more closely at websites, social media, and online communities, addressing key communication principles and pitfalls such as fake news. We will then consider the role of AI for communication, and look specifically at challenging communication contexts such as climate change and crises such as pandemics or war. The final session will wrap up with a specific focus on intercultural communication in the digital age. The seminars will provide opportunities for considering lecture content and for discussing communicative practices and associated research, alongside practical advice for the assignments, flexible teamworking opportunities, and peer feedback supporting assignment preparations.

Indicative course content list:

1. Introduction: Communication and miscommunication in everyday life
2. Theories and models of communication
3. Communication contexts, modes and multimodality
4. Framing and metaphors in discourse(s)
5. Communication through websites
6. Communication through social media
7. Online communities, filter bubbles, and fake news
8. The role of AI: Chatbots and algorithms
9. Climate change and environmental communication
10. Crisis communication: Pandemics, natural catastrophes, and war
11. Intercultural communication in the digital age

Assessment Strategy

Threshold -D: Student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all the learning outcomes. Student can demonstrate a minimum level of understanding of the basic concepts and be able to apply them to examples with some degree of accuracy.

Good -B: Student has achieved a better-than-average standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes, and has a clear and accurate understanding of concepts; ability to apply concepts to data critically and thoughtfully; evidence of wide reading and clear and accurate reference to source materials; free from misunderstanding and errors of content; free from irrelevant material.

Excellent -A: Student has achieved a thorough standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes; or student has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in one or more learning outcomes together with a good overall standard: student has achieved a thorough understanding of the subject, both in terms of content and theory; student is able to apply concepts clearly and accurately; substantial evidence of critical and original thought and analysis; clear, logical argument; high level of communicative competence; free from irrelevant material and errors of spelling and punctuation; evidence of extensive reading beyond basic texts and clear and accurate references to source material.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse key features of communication in the digital age.

• Analyse the diversity of communication used in different contexts.

• Defend principles of using language in digital communication contexts.

• Investigate and analyse linguistic communication specific to a context and mode.