This module explores communication in professional settings, approaches to intercultural communication, and the role culture and cultural identities may play in professional contexts. The course will focus primarily on spoken interactions, such as workplace meetings and presentations, media interviews, and various problem-solving interactions in a range of professional settings. Theories and methods that are covered include discourse analysis, corpus linguistics, intercultural communication, management studies, interactional sociolinguistics, pragmatics and gendered discourse. The course aims to build on courses covered in years one and two, and to develop students’ cultural intelligence in preparation for their future careers.

Knowledge and Understanding:

• Understand how spoken data should be collected, presented, and transcribed.
• Recognise and analyse discursively and culturally significant aspects of professional interaction.
• summarise and paraphrase relevant literature on professional discourse and intercultural communication

Timetabled sessions include 2 lectures and 1 seminar per week.  During seminars, you will be required to make presentations and/or lead discussion, as well as take an active part in discussions.  Lectures are usually supplemented with PowerPoint slides and handouts summarising content at a reasonable level of detail. These are usually made available on Learning Central. Students are encouraged to discuss any specific access needs with staff in advance of taking this module.

• gain understanding of and practice in data collection, transcription and the analysis of interactional data.
• analyse professional interactions from a variety of theoretical perspectives
• approach notions of ‘culture’ from a critical perspective,  and navigate potentially intercultural contexts effectively

The module is assessed by 100% Coursework, consisting of 25% written review of set reading and 75% research project.  There is also a formative element which involves a presentation of the project plan. This will receive feedback, but will not contribute to the mark.

The Critical Review will require students to choose from a selection of research articles on professional communication and intercultural communication, and write a short summary and critique of the research in the context of their wider reading.

The project will involve collecting and analysing interactional data from either a social or workplace setting, focusing, for instance, on the social function of selected linguistic features and how it may relate to issues of culture and identity. As recording professional interactions may be impossible for some students, a further option is to analyse interactions from media sources, or compare and contrast interactions recorded in social settings to published interactions. The research questions will be specified by Week 2 of the module.  The research project will demonstrate the student’s ability to work independently and to design a piece of research to answer a specific question.  The project also involves a formative presentation of the plan to the class, and the student is expected to use the feedback received in this to further develop their project.

The module is assessed according to the Assessment Criteria set out in the English Language Undergraduate Student Handbook. The requirement that students demonstrate ability to design, present and execute research on authentic interaction will restrict the availability of alternative forms of assessment as an adjustment for students with disabilities.  Otherwise there are no academic or competence standards which limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments for students with disabilities.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

In accordance with University regulations, students are allowed two attempts at retrieval of any failed essay, for a maximum module mark of 40%.  Resit assessments are held over the summer.

Topics covered in the module include:

• Professional discourse: what is it, and how can it be analysed?
• Intercultural communication: moving beyond stereotypes and considering small cultures
• Cultural identity: analysing identities in action
• Face and politeness at work: negotiating obligation and power in the workplace
• Business meetings: genre and corpus perspectives
• The construction industry: international interactions and gendered discourse
• English as a Lingua Franca and the workplace: analysis and implications
• Professional interviews: following and breaking constraints
• Conflict and communication: how is conflict discursively constructed?
• Business communication education: implications for the professional context

Benwell, B. and Stokoe, E. (2006) Discourse and Identity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Drew, P. and Heritage, J. (1992) Talk at Work.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gee, J.P. An Introduction to Discourse Analysis. Abingdon: Routledge.
Gee, J.P. and Handford, M. eds. (2012) The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Abingdon: Routledge.
Handford, M. (2010) The Language of Business Meetings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Holmes, Janet and Maria Stubbe. (2003) Power and Politeness in the Workplace: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Talk at Work.  Harlow: Longman.
Hyland, K. Meng Huat, C. & Handford, M. (2012) Corpus Applications in Applied Linguistics. London: Bloomsbury.
Koester, A. Workplace Discourse. London: Continuum.

Benwell, B. and Stokoe, E. (2006) Discourse and Identity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Drew, P. and Heritage, J. (1992) Talk at Work.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gee, J.P. An Introduction to Discourse Analysis. Abingdon: Routledge.
Gee, J.P. and Handford, M. eds. (2012) The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Abingdon: Routledge.
Handford, M. (2010) The Language of Business Meetings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Holmes, Janet and Maria Stubbe. (2003) Power and Politeness in the Workplace: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Talk at Work.  Harlow: Longman.