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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: LIN3001 Module Title: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: LIN3001
Level: HE3 Module Co-ordinator: DIPPOLD D Dr (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 10 Number of ECTS credits: 5
 
Module Availability

Semester 2
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Presentation
25%
Research Essay
65%
Proposal for Research Essay (ca. 300 words)
10%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate of 40% is required to pass the module

Module Overview

This is a Level 3 module for students of any language. It is taught in English in Autumn or Spring semester, two contact hours per week. Attendance is compulsory.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites

Successfully completed Level 2 courses “Introduction to Sociolinguistics”, “Intercultural Communication” and placement year modules.
Module Aims

The module is intended for students who have successfully completed the level 2 module “Introduction to sociolinguistics” and their placement year, having gathered hands-on experience of professional communication. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the main issues concerning communication in both written and oral genres in professional settings as well as the theoretical and methodological approaches used to study such issues. This will equip them with the skills to reflect critically on professional communication events in a variety of contexts.
Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to
name the terminology that is commonly used in the analysis of spoken and written professional communication genres
explain how language in professional contexts is affected by institutional constraints, the genres in which it occurs as well as the transactional and the relational goals of speakers
recognize how various issues can influence professional communication in oral and written genres (identity, gender, intercultural cross-cultural contexts, computer-mediated settings)
plan a research essay on an issue of professional communication
select appropriate methods and apply them to spoken or written data from a professional communication context in relation to a stated research question / focus
interpret spoken or written data from a professional communication context in relation to a theoretical concepts and a stated research question / focus
summarize the results of a research project on professional communication and communicate them through a presentation and a written paper
reflect critically on instances on professional communication in a variety of settings

Module Content

The following topics will be discussed:
Introduction to professional communication
Transactional goals in professional communication
Relational goals in professional communication
Research methods and perspectives (qualitative and quantitative)
Intercultural and cross-cultural issues
Identity and professional communication (power, corporate identity, leadership, gender)
Computer-mediated communication
Training and consulting for professional communication

Methods of Teaching/Learning

The course will be taught in two hours per week. Although there will be no clear separation of these hours into lectures and seminars, lecture- and seminar-style teaching will be mixed throughout class time. This will allow students to explore, in pairs or groups, oral and written data and related patterns in these data to the various theoretical approaches which will be introduced in the class.
Selected Texts/Journals
Essential Reading
Koester, A. (2006). Investigating Workplace Discourse. London and New York: Routledge
Bargiela-Chiappini, F. et. al. (2007). Business Discourse. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
 
Background Reading
Antos, G. & Ventola, E. (Ed.) (2008). Handbook of Interpersonal Communication. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Bhatia, V. (1993). Analysing Genre: Language Use in Professional Settings. London: Longman
Brown, P. & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  
Cameron, D. (2000). Good to Talk? Living and Working in a Communication Culture. London: Sage.. London: Sage.
Cameron, D. (2001). Working with Spoken Discourse. London: Sage Publications.
Clyne, M. (1994). Inter-Cultural Communication at Work. Cultural Values in Discourse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Connor, U. & Upton, T. (eds.) (2004). Discourse in the Professions: Perspectives From Corpus Linguistics. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Coupland, J. (ed.) (1994). Small Talk. Essex: Pearson Education.. Essex: Pearson Education.
Drew, P. & Heritage, J. (eds.) (1992). Talk at Work: Interaction in Institutional Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Eckert, P. & McConnell-Ginet, S. (2003). Language and Gender. Cambridge: CUP.
Geluykens, R. & Kraft, B. (eds.) (2008). Institutional Discourse in Cross-Cultural Contexts. München: Lincom Europa.
Goffman, E. (1967). Interaction Ritual: Essays on Face-to-Face Behavior. New York: Doubleday Anchor Books.. New York: Doubleday Anchor Books.
Gumperz, J. (ed.) (1982). Language and Social Identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Holmes, J. (1995). Women, Men and Politeness. London: Longman.. London: Longman.
Holmes, J. (2006). Gendered Talk at Work: Constructing Gender Identity Through Workplace Discourse. Malden: Blackwell.
Holmes, J. & Stubbe, M. (2003). Power and Politeness in the Workplace. Longman: London,. Longman: London,
Hunston, S. (Ed.) (1998). Language at Work. Clevedon: Multiligual Matters.
Hutchby, I. (2001). Conversation and Technology: From the Telephone to the Internet. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Pan, Y. et al. (2002). Professional Communication in International Settings. Oxford: Blackwell.. Oxford: Blackwell.
Poncini, G. (2004). Discursive Strategies in Multicultural Business Meetings. Bern: Peter Lang.
Richards, K. (2006). Language and Professional Identity. New York: Palgrave.
Sarangi, S. & Roberts, C. (eds.) (1999). Talk, Work and Institutional Order: Discourse in Medial, Mediation and Management Settings. Berlin: de Gruyter.. Berlin: de Gruyter.
Stanton, Nicky (2004). Mastering communication. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Stubbe, M. et. al. (2003). Multiple Discourse Analyses of a Workplace Interaction. Discourse Studies, 5(3), 351-388.
 
Data:
Published data in scholarly monographs and journal articles
Students’ data gathered during / after placement year

Corpora (British National Corpus, language-specific corpora)
Last Updated

14 December 2010