Learning objectives
Improve all language skills reaching at least B2+ (CEFR) by the end of the year.
Develop analytical skills in media texts based mainly on lexico-grammatical choices and their pragmatic function
Course unit content
From the Written to the Spoken Word in Media Language.
We will take up again the main differences between spoken and written language and apply our previous knowledge and skills to the analysis of various informative genres in the British media (newspapers, radio, TV, Internet) as well as forms of entertainment (chat shows and sitcoms. The focus will be particularly on the two codes, written and spoken, where the written text emerges as a form of spontaneous and non-prepared discourse
Bibliography
Mansfield, G. 2006 Changing Channels - Media Language in (Inter)Action, Milano:
LED.
2. Reah, D. 1998 The Language of Newspapers, London & New York, Routledge.
3. Hillier, H. 2004 “Newspaper Reports”, in Analysing Real Texts. Research Studies in
Modern English Language. Basingstoke, Palgrave, pp. 37-60.
4. Kelly-Holmes, H. Advertising as Multilingual Communication, ch. 2.
5. Mansfield, G. 2008 “It’s good to laugh – Identifying Verbal and Non-verbal Humour in
the British TV Sitcom.” In Textus XXI, pp.27-46.
6. Mansfield, G. 2007 "Fra comunicazione multilinguistica e funzione pragmatica nei
cartelli stradali e nella pubblicità cartacea" - Atti del Convegno Il traduttore visibile,
MUP, Parma, 2007, pp. 123-159.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written test in all language skills. Oral examination on the theoretical part of the course.