Course Catalogue

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This course explores the forms and contexts of "bad language" understood as linguistic usage which transgresses societal norms by being judged as offensive or otherwise controversial: impolite, inappropriate, inelegant. We ask how the notions of linguistic impoliteness, correctness and propriety arise, taking a socio-historical, socio-cultural and pragmatic perspective. We explore the linguistic, social and creative aspects of "bad language" across a variety of genres, both historical, such as flyting (a poetic contest of insults), and those emerging in present-day digital communication.

10x 1h lecture + 10x1h seminar taking place within a semester as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into English Language & Linguistics, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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■ Written assignment: essay (2000 words) = 50%

■ Portfolio: two blog posts (word count depending on topic but no less than 500 words each) = 30%

■ Set exercise (online quizzes, equivalent to 800 words) = 20%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Present a range of textual contexts where offensive and controversial language use may arise.

■ Provide an opportunity to reflect on offensive and controversial language use in its socio-cultural and historical context.

■ Equip the students with linguistic tools to analyse offensive and controversial language use in an informed and systematic manner.

■ Develop skills in discussing offensive and controversial language without bias.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Recognise instances of offensive and controversial language use across a variety of textual sources.

■ Interpret instances of offensive and controversial language use in their socio-cultural and historical context.

■ Apply linguistic frameworks to analyse instances of offensive and controversial language.

■ Formulate and present a written argument in relation to a selected aspect of offensive and controversial language.

■ Present a linguistically informed account of a selected aspect of offensive and controversial language as if to non-academic audiences.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.