Language and Society

The aim of the course is to deepen issues in the area of humanities and social sciences, with particular attention to the relationship between philosophy of language, linguistics, sociolinguistics and sociology. In addition, it addresses the role of the language in social interactions and its capacity to frame and construct worlds. Finally, methods for analyzing empirically talk-in-interaction transcripts will be learnt and practiced.

Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge of different approaches and themes: sociolinguistics, linguistic variability, ethnopragmatics, discourse and conversational analysis;
- development of a critical awareness to analyze political, media and institutional discourses, integrating methods, concepts and knowledge from other disciplines (philosophy of language, logics, sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology).
Capacity to apply knowledge and understanding
- the ability to conduct empirical research, analyzing video talk-in-interaction and related transcripts, and to evaluate the results achieved critically.
- the ability to apply the knowledge and critical skills acquired also outside the thematic areas addressed in the course as well as beyond the disciplinary boundaries of philosophy, such as in the fields of political discourse, media studies, interpersonal and institutional communication, gender linguistic discrimination, diversity management, politically correct practices for institutions and companies.