120134 AR Advanced course in English linguistics: Performance and Performatives (2008W)

Linguistic Reflections in Gender-, Cultural and Postcolonial Studies

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik

Continuous assessment of course work

Fürden Schwerpunktbereich applied ling. anrechenbar.
Diese LVA gilt für das Masterstudium English Language and Linguistics nach UG2002, das Diplomstudium (UniStG) und das Lehramt UF Englisch (UniStG).

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Registration is open from Th 18.09.2008 14:00 to Fr 03.10.2008 14:00
Registration is open from Mo 06.10.2008 17:00 to Th 09.10.2008 23:59
Deregistration possible until Th 30.10.2008 23:59

Details

max. 30 participants

Language: English

Lecturers

Birgit Langenberger

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Wednesday 08.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 15.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 22.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 29.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 05.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 12.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 19.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 26.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 03.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 10.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 17.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 07.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 14.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 21.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Wednesday 28.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course is a historical and methodological survey of the concept of the performative in twentieth century linguistic theory with particular emphasis on American feminist and gender studies. Taking John Austins "How to do Things with words" as point of departure we will focus on the distinction between constative utterances - which describe matters of fact and deal with issues of truth and falsity - and performative utterances - which create social, cultural, and political facts and aim at identifying the conditions of a successful realization of speech-acts. More specifically we will deal with performative acts, i.e. speech-acts understood as conduct which construct gender, race, and ethnicity.
Along with tracing the relationship of sex, sexism and language from constative theories of language (e.g. gynocriticism) to performative theories of language (as in deconstructivism and postcolonialism) we will provide an overview over the development of womens' to gender studies emphasizing the constructed, relational character of gender and its intersections with race and ethnicity.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance (mandatory), active participation in class, presentation of position papers, short essays

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

It is the aim of this course to introduce students to the concept of the performative, to give an overview over contemporary debates in linguistics, cultural, black and postcolonial studies, and to show their relevance to gender studies. We will focus specifically on the different problems, positions, debates, and methods involved with the aim of developing a "toolbox" of reading and interpretative approaches which can be utilized in any disciplinary context. Students should be familiarized with central linguistic concepts and encouraged to critically assess and apply them to their area of interest.

Examination topics

Students engage in small-group discussions and staged debates, presentations, and write short papers on required readings. Together we clarify concepts, discuss political, philosophical, and linguistic theories while providing instruction for further reading.

Reading list

A reader will be provided.

Association in the course directory

2033, 2043, 2044, 2045, 2046, 2047, 2053, 2054, 2055, 2056, 2057, 225, 226, 228, 236, 238, 722, 223

Last modified: We 09.09.2020 00:22