2024-2025 / LING0007-1

Discourse analysis and typology

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5 crédits 
 Master in French and Romance languages and literature : French as a foreign language, teaching focus5 crédits 
 Master in multilingual communication, professional focus in intercultural and international organization communication5 crédits 
 Master in multilingual communication, professional focus in digital media education (Digital media education)5 crédits 
 Master in multilingual communication, professional focus in economic and social communication5 crédits 
 Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : French as a foreign language, professional focus5 crédits 
 Master in multilingual communication, professional focus in language and culture5 crédits 

Lecturer

Deborah Meunier, François Provenzano

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course offers a theoretical and practical introduction to discourse analysis (DA). This discipline considers verbal productions in their linguistic, social, media and ideological dimensions. As such, it presents itself as a crossroads science whose tools are used today to understand the forms and stakes of all types of discourse: literature, advertising, politics, organizations, the press, institutions, etc.

We will begin by proposing a number of major theoretical approaches, which will help to establish the general epistemological framework of discourse analysis: what does it seek to know, and how does it go about it? We will present the notions of :

  • discourse: what is the difference with the notion of language? discourse in the singular, or in the plural? how does the notion of contexts relate to that of discourse?
  • genre: what organizes the production and reception of discourses in a given state of society? what links can be identified between discourse genres and material supports?
  • ideology: how can a discourse convey value systems and worldviews that serve certain interests rather than others, or contribute to power struggles between social groups? what critical stance should we adopt with regard to the ideological dimension of discourse
  • ethos: what subjectivities are constructed by discourses, starting with the subjectivity of the authority that produces them? How does the image of a discourse subject relate to the social and contextual dimensions that accompany its circulation?
Among the various currents represented in discourse analysis, we will focus on qualitative and interpretative approaches, illustrating concepts with case studies.

Students will then work together to analyze a specific discourse on a common theme. This work will be monitored by the class teachers, and will culminate in a class presentation.

In keeping with the multi-disciplinary approach to discourse analysis, the course is aimed at students from all branches of the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, as well as students from other faculties (in particular: Social Sciences, Law, Political Science) interested in the discursive dimensions of social phenomena, in the broadest sense.

 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • situate the epistemological perspective of AD in relation to neighboring disciplines (linguistics, sociology, rhetoric, information and communication sciences, political science, narratology, semiotics, etc.) ;
  • understand, explain and illustrate the main concepts covered in the course;
  • carry out an original, well-equipped analysis of a specific discourse, and present the results orally;
  • read, understand and synthesize a scientific text relating to AD.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Have taken and passed at least one linguistics course as part of your university curriculum.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is organized in two parts:

  • an ex-cathedra theoretical component,
  • a practical component, which takes the form of supervised group work and presentations.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Students choose a reading from a list available on eCampus, and give an oral report on it during the exam.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Continuous assessment

Out-of-session test(s)


Further information:

There are two parts to the assessment:

  • presentation of group work in class ;
  • individual oral examination.
The presentation is assessed according to the following criteria:

  • participation in follow-up sessions ;
  • appropriateness of tools to the research question ;
  • interpretative finesse ;
  • clarity of exposition.
The oral examination is based on the ex-cathedra theory sessions, and on the chosen reading; evaluation criteria are as follows:

  • conceptual understanding and personal reformulation ;
  • ability to illustrate.
Session: June

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

This year's course has a new holder and a new concept.

It takes place in Q2, Mondays, 1-3pm, room A2/4/15.

Resumption: Monday 03/02/2025, 1pm, A2/4/15.

Contacts

François Provenzano Francois.Provenzano@uliege.be 

Deborah Meunier dmeunier@uliege.be 

Secrétariat : Ariane Nüsgens

+32 4 3665650

Ariane.Nusgens@uliege.be 

Association of one or more MOOCs