New course: Linguistics and Science Communication

The following course has been added to the IEAS course program. Registration is still open for it.

Linguistics and science communication: Sharing linguistic research with the world

Instructor: Manfred Sailer
Monday, 12.15-13.45,  starting 4.11.2024
Room: IG 3.201
Modules:

  • L3 FW 3.1, FW 4.2
  • BA ES 3.4.2 /
  • BA EmpSprachw En5
  • MALing LING-INT-ARC, LING-CORE-ARC B
  • MA EmpSprachw MA-ES-EN-B

Course description

There is a growing interest in and a growing need for accessible and available presentation of scientific research and insights. According
to linguistic-TikToker Simon Meier-Vieracker (Dresden), linguistics is in an ideal situation for science communication: (i) Everyone uses
language and has some opinion on language and language use. This makes it easy for most people to relate to linguistic topics. (ii) There are many freely accessible tools and resources that make it possible to put interesting content together quite easily, and to empower the
audience to start their own linguistic exploration.

The aim of this class is to produce material for various science communication scenarios (such as short videos for platforms like
youtube, material for projects in a secondary school classroom, or material for information talks addressing adults).

In the course, participants will get some theoretical background on science communication. We will evaluate existing science communication material and initiatives on linguistic topics – including TED talks, Science Slam contributions, popular science books and others. We will identify possible science communication settings, as well as topics on which the course praticipants have some background from previous linguistics courses or that seem to be of interest for the intended target group.

In addition to the regular weekly meetings of the whole course from November 4 on, groups are expected to have individual meetings with the instructor to discuss their projects.

Course reading

among others:
Wagner, Laura & Cecile McKee. 2023. How to talk language science with everybody. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Available
electronically at the UB)

Prerequisites

Introduction to Linguistics

To register, write an e-mail message to Manfred Sailer
(sailer@em.uni-frankfurt.de) and enroll in the course’s OLAT class and its learning group:
https://olat-ce.server.uni-frankfurt.de/olat/auth/RepositoryEntry/22786834434

The password for the Olat course is: Sailer-WiSe2425

Leistungsnachweis

Assignments, in-class presentation, term paper