2024/2025

Crossing borders: language, cognitive and cultural phenomena

Type: Optional course (university)

Delivered by: Department of Foreign Languages

When: 3, 4 module

Open to: everyone

Instructors: Olga G. Gorina, Kamneva Larisa

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Курс предназначен для тех, кто стремится выстраивать адекватную межкультурную коммуникацию с учетом картины мира всех коммуникантов. Курс реализуется на английском языке, рекомендуемый уровень владения английском языком В2 CEFR.

Learning Objectives

• To master communicative strategies through the study of the influence of language and culture on the formation of worldview and world picture.
• To develop the skills of cultural analysis of language material and the ability to distinguish similarities and differences between native and studied cultures.
• To study cultural peculiarities when translating from English into Russian and from Russian into English.
• To develop sensitivity to foreign cultures and the ability to take into account national and cultural peculiarities in intercultural communication.
• To master hedging techniques and the communicative strategy of reducing categorical judgments.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• To learn to identify cultural differences and translation difficulties, and to perceive and interpret information about different cultures in the context of communication and translation.
• To be able to critically analyze metaphors, politeness language and their use, as well as recognize representations of cultures in media and evaluate their impact on public representations.
• To be able to actively apply metaphors to arguments and select appropriate forms of address depending on the cultural context, considering tone and politeness.
• To possess strategies for effective conflict resolution in intercultural communication.
• To be able to work in a team, present project results in the form of a presentation, and answer questions.

Course Contents

• 1. Intercultural Interactions and Communication Issues: Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation Skills
• 2. Metaphors and Their Role in Shaping Our Reality: Critical Thinking and Metaphorical Analysis Cross-Culture Aspect
• 3. Bartlett's Schema Theory, Lakoff's Politeness Theory, Brown and Levinson's Positive and Negative Face: Understanding and Application of Polite Speech and Idiomatic Expressions
• 4. Hedging as a Communicative Strategy in the Anglophone World: Specific Communicative Contexts Such as Academic Discourse and Interpersonal Interactions, Applying Principles of Corpus Linguistics
• 5. Global Business Communication Strategies: Emphasizing Effective Communication Practices in Global Business Settings, Including Intercultural Negotiation, Business Etiquette, and Cross-Cultural Teamwork
• 6. Language and Power Dynamics: Exploring How Language Shapes and Reflects Power Dynamics in Different Cultural and Social Contexts, Including the Impact of Language on Social Hierarchies, Gender Roles, and Institutional Authority
• 7. Intercultural Conflict Resolution: Understanding and Managing Conflicts Arising from Intercultural Interactions, Addressing Cultural Misunderstandings, and Applying Conflict Resolution Strategies in Diverse Cultural Settings.
• 8. Cultural Diversity in Media Representation: Examining the Portrayal of Diverse Cultures and Identities in Media, Analyzing the Influence of Media on Perceptions of Culture, and Exploring Strategies for Promoting Cultural Inclusivity and Representation

Assessment Elements

• Ongoing assessment
  1. 30% Classroom interaction: Intermediate oral activities of any kind (participation in discussions, debates, answers to questions on the material covered in seminars, participation in case discussions, other types of prepared and unprepared oral answers, discussion of articles). The types of activities and the total number of mandatory grades for class work are set by the teacher depending on the level of the group. 2. 30% Individual assignments: Written activities, tests, projects. Types of activities and the total number of mandatory grades for independent work are set by the teacher depending on the level of the group.
• Final project
  Project can be submited both individually and in teams; the form of a project is chosen by the teacher depending on the competence level of the group. The project includes a presentation on a topic of the student's choice in accordance with one of the course themes.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 4th module
  0.3 * Final project + 0.4 * Ongoing assessment + 0.3 * Ongoing assessment

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Зарубежная политическая лингвистика : учеб. пособие, Будаев, Э. В., 2008
• Профессиональный тренинг переводчика : учеб. пособие по устному и письменному переводу для переводчиков и преподавателей, Алексеева, И. С., 2003
• Язык и межкультурная коммуникация, [учебное пособие], 264 с., Тер-Минасова, С. Г., 2008

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Мой несистематический словарь (из записной книжки переводчика), Палажченко, П. Р., 2002
• Русское культурное пространство. Вып.1: Зооморфные образы; Прецедентные имена; Прецедентные тексты; Прецедентные высказывания, Брилева, И. С., 2004

Authors

• Stalskaia Sofia Stanislavovna
• GORINA OLGA GRIGOREVNA
• Diugaeva Irina Dmitrievna
• Kamneva Larisa Eduardovna