English Language

Course summary

Just think about it: language is woven into every aspect of our lives. You may be woken up by the voice of the news presenter and register the headline about Trump’s latest conundrum. You go on to take a shower and the ‘cosy-chatty-witty’ label on your shampoo makes you smile. On the way to school, the slogan on a new billboard catches your eye. You notice the sign in your favorite coffee shop and wonder when words like ‘frappuccino’ and ‘babyccino’ were first invented. You absent-mindedly glance at the leaflet about an exhibition that was just pushed into your hands. As you approach the school gates, you hear your mates sharing a saucy story before suddenly changing their topic and tone when they see the biology teacher appearing from around the corner The way language subconsciously influences our thinking is also of huge significance in the political arena. Think about how your reactions may change if you hear a story about political refugees or – changing the frame – of immigrants “flooding” or “swamping” the country, or taking it even further, referring to people like ‘animals’. Clearly, the labels we use will influence what we believe to be true and real: in the previous example whether we perceive immigration as a cause or as a threat. By studying language in depth, you will develop critical awareness and gain invaluable skills for your future working life – vital communication, analytical, and critical skills. But importantly, such critical awareness will allow you to be a conscious, critical human being who is able to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, understand the role of language in social control, propaganda, and manipulation, and be able to use this understanding to make the world a less oppressive, more equal and just place.