Bachelor’s Degree Lecture: Discourse of international relations 3200-L3-0WL-DSM
The course focuses on the cross-fertilization of language and foreign policy theory. Foreign policy is (mainly) conducted by means of language. Complex international relations are carried out by numerous stakeholders: politicians, policy makers, pundits, advisers, scholars, journalists, famous personas and others. Infrequently, one person holds a few functions. Additionally, there are also representatives of important institutions, governments, organizations, churches and influential individuals. All these stakeholders use language in its various aspects.
Given its international character, the English language will undergo a thorough analysis regarding its use in the theory and practice of international relations.
The course covers (though is not limited to) the following areas:
- mechanisms of meaning construal and interpretation generation
- rhetorical tools, such as metaphor and metonymy
- special role of personification
- polysemy
- intertextuality
- simple and complex concepts and expressions
- specialist phraseology
- terminology
- etymology
The student’s time involvement:
30 hrs. – class attendance
45 hrs. – individual work:
i.e. ongoing class preparation (15hrs.); preparation for the final exam (30 hrs.)
If classroom instruction is impossible, the classes will be conducted by means of distance communication tools, most probably Google Meet and those recommended by the University.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student:
knows
- the most important achievements in the field of linguistics;
- the specificity of contemporary linguistic paradigms;
- the relationship between applied linguistics and international relations; (K1_W)
can
- formulate research questions;
- use research tools typical for (applied) linguistics;
- argue using other authors’ views;
- individually formulate oral or written conclusions in English;
- communicate in English in typical professional settings;
- appropriately use the theoretical knowledge of linguistics and international relations in typical professional settings; (K1_W)
Assessment criteria
Class attendance
(two absences per semester allowed)
Course requirements (1st round):
Final exam (100% of final grade)
Exam format announced at the beginning of the semester.
Course requirements (2nd round):
The same as in the 1st round
Practical placement
Not applicable
Bibliography
Suggested references:
Chilton, Paul. 1996. Security Metaphors: Cold War Discourse from Containment to Common House. New York: Peter Lang.
Griffiths, Martin, Terry O’Callaghan, Terry and Steven C. Roach. 2008. International Relations. The Key Concepts, 2nd edition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hobbes, Thomas. 1943. Leviathan. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
Marks, Michael P. 2011. Metaphors in International Relations Theory. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Musolff, Andreas. 2004. Metaphor and Political Discourse: Analogical Reasoning in Debates about Europe. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Twardzisz, Piotr. 2013. The Language of Interstate Relations. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Twardzisz, Piotr. 2018. Defining 'Eastern Europe'. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: