Discourse in the media - perspective of linguistic pragmatics

The course covers basic issues in the theory of linguistic pragmatics, the characteristics of the genres, stylistic and social varieties of modern media language and its development tendencies. The individual lectures are dedicated stories of unusual people and their image in media and language (like famous athletes, climbers, scientists, disabled persons, lovers etc.). After the presentation of the subject (facts, text materials, pictures etc.) will be discussed problems of media image, values, facts and manipulation and especially language and text expressions. The tutorials are devoted to developing comparative skills of the students as well, in the area of lexis and cultural context.

Stories – the main topics are:

1. The Fallen God. Media and Sport, Drugs and Cancer.

Lance Edward Armstrong.

(2) Addition: The Snow Queen (Justyna Kowalczyk) and Iron Mike (Tyson)

3. Non-Human Person. The Story of Hachiko.

Animal Rights and Animal Language. Humans, Animals, Friendship and Love.

(4) Addition: Private Wojtek – the Most Amazing Polish Soldier in World War II.

5. How to Create a Great Love Story? – Romeo and Juliet. Love, Plot and Death.

Original Tragedy by Shakespeare versus ‘Shakespeare in Love’.

(6) Addition: Barbara Radziwiłłówna and Zygmunt August, True Love Stories from Different Countries.

7. Shadow of Big Mountains – Polish Climbers in Himalaya. Death on Broad Peak, Brotherhood of the Rope, Safety and Magic.

(8) Addition: The Messner Brothers Tragedy on Nanga Parbat; Extreme Sports.

9. Stars, Mind and Body. Stephen Hawking.

Media and Modern Science. Language and Disability.

(10) Addition: The Woman’s Power – Ann Trason and Lynne Cox.

11. The Dark Side of a Men. Andreas Breivik.

Death Penalty, Terrorism and Tolerance.

(12) Jack the Ripper, Mama Madzi and the Yellow Press.

13. Two Curses – the Grand Master and the Pharaoh. Magic, Mystery and Language Taboo.

(14) Addition: The Tombs of Polish Kings, Mysterious Stories from Different Countries.

15. Summary: Linguistic Pragmatics and Media.

Theory – the main topics are:

1. Linguictic Pragmatics.

2. Types of arguments.

3. Connotations.

4. The functions of language.

5. Presuppositions.

6. Grice’s theory of implicature.

7. Linguistic Determinism.

8. Language and taboo.

- Armstrong, L.; Jenkins, S. 2000. It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life.

- Cox, L. 2005. Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer.

- Hawking, S. 1988. A Brief History of Time (Foreword by Carl Sagan).

- Hemmleb, J. 2010. Nanga Parbat. Das Drama 1970 und die Kontroverse.

- Jakobson R., 1960. Linguistics and Poetics (available in PDF)

- Levinson, S. C. 1983. Pragmatics.

- Lyons, J. 1977. Semantics.

- Macur, J. 2014. Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong.

- McDougall, Ch. 2011. Born to Run.

It will be completed.

Knowledge: theories of linguistics pragmatics, important and interesting facts in contemporary media world, comparative linguistic in lexical and culture context

Skills: analysis and assessment of media texts examined in different linguistics points of view (especially values and manipulation), translations and comparative journalistic exercises (culture, grammar, lexis)

Exam