Language across modalities

Undergraduate course

ECTS credits
15
Teaching semesters
Spring
Course code
LING314
Number of semesters
1
Teaching language
English
Resources
Schedule

Course description

Objectives and Content

This course introduces the linguistic analysis of multimodality of language in interaction, from phonetics to discourse. The focus is on the modes of communication that are part of our semiotic repertoire but often neglected in linguistic research, such as prosody, gesture and visual communication. By comparing languages both within and across modalities, we can better understand the full potential of linguistic diversity. The course also aims to introduce methods for analyzing multimodal language data, e.g. methods and tools for recording and transcribing spoken and signed conversations.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate is able to:

  • describe important terms and concepts in multimodal research;
  • describe and discuss the role of multimodality in language and communication;
  • explain the role of multimodality of linguistic theory building.

Skills

The candidate is able to:

  • apply methods and tools to multimodal research on language.

General competence

The candidate is able to:

  • critically assess how linguistic research accounts for multimodality;
  • communicate about problems, analyses and findings in multimodal research.

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
-
Recommended Previous Knowledge
A bachelor degree with a specialization in linguistics, language or communication.
Access to the Course
Open to all who have been admitted to a master's or PhD program at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars and practical exercises. About 24 hours per semester.

If fewer than five students are registered to a course, the department might reduce the teaching, please see the department's guidelines regarding this on Mitt UiB. For courses where this is a possibility, the students get information about this at the beginning of the semester, and before the deadline regarding semester registration February 1 / September 1.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Supervision in connection to the design of the final project and writing of the report is obligatory, and must consist of at least one meeting with the supervisor, who must be given access to a project proposal or draft report in advance.

The mandatory activities are valid in the teaching semester.

Forms of Assessment

An individual project that involves a multimodal analysis of language with the help of tools and methods introduced in the class, submitted as a written report of about 3000 words (not counting references, appendices etc.) together with the data and annotation files.

The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.

The exam can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading Scale
A-F.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List
The reading list consists of reading materials related to multimodal research, about 400 pages. The materials include introductions to methods and documentation of tools and software.
Course Evaluation
Course evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.
Examination Support Material
It is allowed to use materials from the literature list, library resources, and references and tools indicated by the teacher. All literature, data and other aids that are used must be cited.
Course Coordinator
Programme Committee for Linguistics

Course description

Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies