A thorough knowledge of the notion of viewpoint across different linguistic modalities and across different genres and media
A better understanding of the multimodal nature of language (including e.g. gesture, gaze, etc.)
An appreciation of the relevance of linguistic notions in the enjoyment and analysis of cultural artefacts of various kinds (literary, visual, filmic,...)
In terms of proficiency levels, level C2 for receptive skills and C1 for productive skills, as defined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
To introduce students to cognitive-linguistic analysis of texts across a range of genres (including poetry, journalistic prose, literary fiction, political discourse) but also of other cultural artefacts (videos, comics, artworks, advertisements,...).
In terms of language skills, enabling students to attain levels C2 for receptive skills and C1 for productive skills, as defined by the Council of Europe in its Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
This course focuses on questions of viewpoint management and genre from a cognitive-linguistic (or cognitive-poetic) perspective. It aims to study viewpoint phenomena across a range of texts (both literary and non-literary) from low-level constructions (such as the genitive), through particular viewpointed uses of figurative language, all the way up to complex discourses such as contemporary 'fragmented' novels, and extends the discussion to the visual arts as well. In addition, it aims to show how specialized text genres (such as popularizing scientific discourse or political discourse) exploit existing or novel constructions in genre-specific ways.
Table of contents:
0 Introduction
About the course
Viewpoint and perspective in language and gesture
A few brief preliminaries: Mental spaces, blends, frames, constructions
1 Constructions and viewpoint
Some viewpoint phenomena in the Noun Phrase
Negation, stance verbs, and intersubjectivity
More on negation: Alternativity in poetry and drama
2 Extending viewpoint constructions from grammar to discourse
The language of distance in grammar and discourse
Irony as a viewpoint phenomenon
3 Constructions and viewpoint across genres and modalities
Unrealistic scenarios, metaphorical blends and rhetorical strategies across genres
Fitting discourse context and constructions into cognitive metaphor theory
Figurative language and viewpoint in political speeches: JFK & Obama
Interactions between discourse status and viewpoint in co-speech gesture
Illusions of simplicity: A cognitive approach to visual poetry
4 Multiple languages, multiple narratives, multiple infinities?
Multiple languages, multiple Englishes
Multiple narratives
Multiple infinities – Finding visual viewpoint parallels
The exercises feature viewpoint analyses complementary to the theoretical course as well as a module on accents and dialects of English ("one tongue, many voices").
Continuous assessment and oral exam.
Use of AI tools to produce texts or content in either the formative or summative assessment phases will not be tolerated, unless explicitly stated.
Weighting of the different course components:
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelier en langues et lettres modernes, orientation germaniques | Standard | 0 | 7 | |
| Bachelier en langues et lettres modernes, orientation germaniques | Standard | 3 | 7 |