The course provides an introduction and comprehensive overview of the major approaches and methodological tools used in discourse analysis. It introduces both traditional perspectives on the analysis of texts and spoken discourse as well as more recent approaches that address technologically mediated and multimodal discourse.
The course incorporates analysis of real data from conversational interaction, ceremonial vows, dating adverts, social media, blogs and msn, popular music lyrics, and newspaper articles. Students will develop skills in analysing the properties of different texts, in characterizing the interpersonal stances adopted by speakers and writers, and in identifying and classifying the various genres or texts types which operate in particular social settings.