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Ecolinguistics (ENG -208): Course Outline(ENG -208)

Ecolinguistics is an interdisciplinary field that explores the relationship between language and the environment. It examines how language shapes human interactions with nature and how linguistic structures can either contribute to ecological destruction

Course description

This course has two main aims: First to introduce students to the burgeoning literature on sociolinguistic and discoursal aspects of the discussion of the environment, sustainability and ecologies. Secondly to encourage students to critically appraise the ways in which the environment, sustainability and ecologies are presented, represented and constructed through a range of contemporary forms of language and communication. Whilst there will be a critical flavour, the course will also take a constructive approach, considering ways in which debates about the future can be informed and developed by scholarship in language and communication.

Course objectives

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate awareness of the key groups of protagonists in environmental and related debates.
  • Identify themes and patterns in language and discourse on environmental topics.
  • Differentiate, compare and contrast the diversity of forms of textual engagement with environmental issues.
  • Recognise how to apply techniques of discourse analysis (broadly defined) to a wide range of texts on environmental issues.
  • Critically evaluate arguments around environmental issues.
  • Read, understand and evaluate academic literature on language and sustainability and ecolinguistics.
  • Produce careful and critical texts on language and ecologies for a variety of audiences and purposes.

Textbooks

Course contents

Unit –I: Introduction to Ecolinguistics

  • Key terms: ecology, ecologies, sustainability, the notion of ‘green’, eco-, consumers and consumerism, nature and natural, our place in a changing world, the individual, commodification, convenience, etc.
  • Language and environment
  • Environmental issues in Pakistan and around the world

Unit –II: Ecology as Metaphor

  • The ecology of language(s)
  • Ecosystems: language world systems and other metaphors
  • Identity and manifoldness: New perspectives in science, language and politics
  • Economy and ecology in language

Unit –III: Language and Environment

  • Language and the natural environment
  • Linguistic and biological diversity

Unit –IV: Critical Ecolinguistics

  • Ecocriticism of the language system
  • New Ways of Meaning: The Challenge to Applied Linguistics (Halliday)
  • Green grammar and grammatical metaphor, or language and myth of power, or metaphors

Unit –V: Ecocritical Discourse Analysis and Language Awareness

  • The passive voice of science: language abuse in the wildlife profession
  • Constructing the environmental spectacle: green advertisements and the greening of the corporate
  • Ecological criticism of language

Teaching-learning Strategies

Teaching will be done through the lecture method with a combination of tasks/projects and presentations

Suggested Reading

Assessment and Examinations

Assessment will be done as per university/department policy.