Language and Culture in Intercultural Communication (949Q3B)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

You examine how cultural assumptions and values influence language and interactional style, and vice versa.

We interrogate our own cultures and ask questions like:

  • what do we consider to be polite or rude, natural or unnatural in communication with others?
  • what values and habits shape our expectations of what communication is?
  • what is communication for and what forms it should take?

You explore how communicative behaviours can vary and be (mis)interpreted in intercultural situations. We also consider ideas around universality in human interaction and ‘intercultural competence’.

Teaching

100%: Seminar

Assessment

100%: Coursework (Essay)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2021/22. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.