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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : European Languages and Cultures - Russian Studies

Undergraduate Course: The Russian Language Society from Proper use to Propaganda (ELCR10018)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of the course is to provide final year students of Russian Studies with knowledge and understanding of social contexts in which Russian language functions. The course will deal with theoretical and practical questions of language change, the so called ?linguistic liberalization= and experimentation in contemporary Russian culture as well as issues of language attitudes and policies arising from social transformation. In addition, the course will discuss fundamental questions of the role of language and discourse in construction of identity and ideology and introduce students to relevant theories, such as social and communication theories of identity, Critical Discourse Analysis and others. Students will see how nationalist, xenophobic or liberal ideologies have been expressed through the Russian language and will be equipped to critique the Russian theories of »The Language Picture of the World« and the purist theory of »deep and shallow meanings«. They will explore the narrative about the Great and Mighty Russian Language as a cultural myth and finally see how competing versions of post-Soviet Russian identity are being constructed.
Course description The course explores the socio-cultural role of Russian language in Russia and other Russian speaking societies. The course deals with the social and cultural contexts in which Russian functions and examines how historical social upheavals such as the Bolshevik Revolution and the collapse of the Soviet Union impacted on Russian linguistic culture. The topics include the language attitudes, policies and ideologies, construction of identity, literary experimentation, political propaganda and the emerging notion of Global Russian. The course addresses among others, the following questions: What are the connections between the nationalist ideologies and purist language attitudes? What cultural myths about the Russian language are perpetuated in contemporary Russian society? What competing versions of post-Soviet Russian identity are being constructed in Russian public discourse? How is Russian used in various locations in the world? Students are introduced to relevant theories, and to some methods of Discourse Analysis.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Entry to Russian Hons
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesIn order to be eligible to take 4th Year Options, Visiting Students should have the equivalent of at least two years of study at University level of the appropriate language(s) and culture(s).
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% Coursework
Summative:
60% Research Report
30% Individual Presentation PPT Notes
10% Producing three logs on Wiki

Formative:
Participation in ALG discussion (tutor feedback will be provided)
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. critically assess and explain key theoretical concepts of socio-linguistics in relation to Russian (including language policy, linguistic culture, discourse, language ideology and others
  2. demonstrate awareness of the social underpinning of the linguistic phenomena studied in the course
  3. analyse examples of language used in a variety of social contexts
  4. conduct research and produce clear, complex essay projects which develop their arguments both critically and systematically
  5. demonstrate finely honed communication and interaction skills in presentations and discussions
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsDELC Russian Language Society,Russian language,society,sociolinguistics,linguistic culture
Contacts
Course organiserProf Lara Ryazanova-Clarke
Tel: (0131 6)50 3668
Email: Lara.Ryazanova-Clarke@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Hope Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)50 4167
Email: hope.hamilton@ed.ac.uk
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