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Syllabus:

Linguistics and the Eurovision Song Contest, 7.5 Credits

Swedish name: Språkvetenskapliga perspektiv på Eurovision Song Contest

This syllabus is valid: 2024-05-06 and until further notice

Course code: 1EN094

Credit points: 7.5

Education level: First cycle

Grading scale: Three-grade scale

Responsible department: Department of Language Studies

Established by: Faculty director of studies, Faculty of arts, 2024-02-13

Contents

The course addresses linguistic perspectives on the Eurovision Song Contest. Using the Eurovision Song Contest as a starting point, the course provides an introduction to European language policy, discourse analysis, multilingualism and metaphors.

The course consists of five modules:

  1. introduction to the Eurovision Song Contest from a linguistic perspective (1.5 credits)
  2. discursive perspectives on gender, political identity, and nationality (1.5 credits)
  3. multilingualism (1,5hp)
  4. metaphors (1.5 credits)
  5. individual specialisation (1,5hp)

Expected learning outcomes

In order to be awarded a 'Pass' grade, the student must be able to
Knowledge and Understanding:

  • Understand and explain how the European linguistic context is reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest,
  • Describe how multilingualism is reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest,

Abilities

  • discuss language in relation to identity formation,
  • identify and describe the use of metaphors in (song) texts,

Judgement and Approach

  • independently analyse (song) texts from relevant linguistic perspectives,
  • relate the specific premises of the Eurovision Song Contest to broader current language policy issues.

Required Knowledge

General entry requirements

Form of instruction

The course is entirely net-based and is conducted via an online learning platform. Teaching takes place in the form of pre-recorded lectures, net-based group discussions and quiz exercises.
English is the medium of instruction in all modules.

Examination modes

Modules 1-4 are examined through assessment of written contributions in online discussion groups and quizzes, and each module is assessed with either grade Pass (G) or Fail (U).

Module 5 is examined through assessment of a written individual assignment with either grade Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U).
Examination format may be adapted for students granted special educational services due to a disability. Such adaptations must conform to the expected learning outcomes. The course coordinator shall make a decision concerning adapted examination format upon application by the student, after consulting the course examiner. The decision shall be forwarded to the student.
 
Students who have received a pass grade cannot resit for a higher grade.

Students who fail an exam on the first occasion will be able to sit the exam again at a later date. The first resit shall be scheduled no later than 2 months after the original exam, and no sooner than 10 workdays after the result of the original exam has been published. For exams during May or June, the first resit shall be scheduled no later than 3 months after the original exam. The date for the resit shall be published no later than on the day of the original exam. At least one additional resit shall be scheduled within a year after the original exam.

The examiner may decide that a student who does not reach a Pass grade on a written assignment can do a revision for a Pass grade, as an alternative to a full resit. Such a revision must be made within 10 days of the result being published.

A student who has failed to reach a Pass grade after two attempts has the right to having another examiner appointed for the following resit, unless overriding reasons apply. Requests for another examiner shall be directed to the Faculty Programme Director at the Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts.

Literature

Valid from: 2024 week 19

All literature is either freely available online, via the university library or can be provided via Canvas.

Motschenbacher Heiko.
Language, Normativity and Europeanisation : Discursive Evidence from the Eurovision Song Contest
London : Palgrave Macmillan UK : 2016 : XVII, 384 p. 6 illus. in color. :
Online access for UMUB
ISBN: 9781137563019
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: Selected parts (available as e-book)

Pereltsvaig Asya
Languages of the world : an introduction
Third edition : Cambridge : Cambridge University Press : 2021 : xix, 482 sidor :
ISBN: 9781108748124
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: Reading instructions p. 5-21

Ethnologue [Elektronisk resurs] : Languages of the World
Eberhard David M., Simons Gary F., Fennig Charles D.
Languages of the World : 2019 :
22nd edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International : 2019. Online version:
Mandatory

The Cambridge Handbook of Bilingualism
Cambridge University Press : 2018 :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: Reading instructions: 119-134

Motschenbacher Heiko
’Now everybody can wear a skirt’: linguistic constructions of non-heteronormativity at Eurovision Song Contest press conferences
Institutionen för språkstudier : 2013 :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: In Discourse & Society, 2013, vol. 24, no. 5, 590-614.

How to do critical discourse analysis : a multimodal introduction
Machin David, Mayr Andrea
London : Sage : 2012 : 236 s. :
Online access for UMUB
ISBN: 9780857028921
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: Reading instructions: p. 15-29

The social meanings of language, dialect and accent : international perspectives on speech styles
Giles Howard, Watson Bernadette M.
New York : Peter Lang : cop. 2013 : viii, 194 s. :
ISBN: 9781433118692
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: Reading instructions: 1-13; 18-20

Hilder Thomas
Performing sexual identities. Nationalities on the Eurovision stage
Institutionen för språkstudier :
Länk
Mandatory
Reading instructions: Nordic sexual exceptionalism and indigenous rights: Sámi alternative visions of Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest

Kövecses Zoltán.
Metaphor : a practical introduction
2nd ed. : New York : Oxford University Press : 2010 : 1 online resource (xx, 375 p.) :
Online access for UMUB
ISBN: 9780199705313
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: Reading instructions: 3-15, 49-62

All you need is love: metaphors of love in 1946–2016 Billboard year-end number-one songs
Climent Salvador, Coll-Florit Marta
Institutionen för språkstudier : 2021 :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: Text & talk, 2021-07, Vol.41 (4), p.469-491

Minority languages and sustainable translanguaging: threat or opportunity?
Cenoz Jasone, Gorter Durk
Institutionen för språkstudier :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 38:10, 901-912. DOI: 10.1080/01434632.2017.1284855

Motschenbacher Heiko
’Now everybody can wear a skirt’: linguistic constructions of non-heteronormativity at Eurovision Song Contest press conferences”
Institutionen för språkstudier : 2013 :
Reading instructions: In Discourse & Society, 2013, vol. 24, no. 5, 590-614. DOI: 10.1177/0957926513486167

Supplementary text-material (approx. 80 pages) will be available via the course site or Umeå University Library's digital resources.