This course will provide students with opportunities to develop a critical understanding of the theories and methods of discourse analysis as they apply to language use, learning, teaching, and education in first, second, heritage language, and multilingual environments. Since the types of discourse analysis are rather varied, the course will survey the theoretical underpinnings of discourse analysis in addition to focusing on several areas within discourse studies that have received increasing attention in second language studies. These are critical discourse analysis, sociocultural linguistics, and ethnographic discourse analysis, which includes interactional sociolinguistics. As we examine these areas, we will consider written, spoken, and digital forms of discourse, including social media and computer-mediated communication. Students will read theoretical and methodological approaches to discourse and alongside empirical studies. Students will apply their understanding of readings on selected topics and participate in group presentations to lead the class in discussions of these tools. Students will also carry out an independent study that engages in a specific type of discourse analysis of their choice and write a 20-page course paper.
Recommended texts:
Jones, R. H., Chik, A., & Hafner, C. A. (2015). Discourse and digital practices: Doing discourse analysis in the digital age. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Paltridge, B. (2021). Discourse analysis: An introduction (3rd ed.) London: Bloomsbury.