The first class will commence on 8th September, 2022 (Thursday), 13:30 - 16:20 at CPD-G.02.

This course offers an introduction to ways that language usage trends across society can be sensitive to social categories of sexuality and gender along with how speakers use language to project gender and sexuality. The course includes an historical view while bringing in cutting edge research, in this way highlighting emerging trends while keeping persistent themes in view. Project work will focus on discourse analysis of authentic data.

 

By the end of the course, students are expected to:

• Understand the historical development of gender, seuality and discourse in various societies and social situations
• Make links between their own social experience and the topic of gender, sexuality and discourse
• Be able to use discourse analysis to examine issues of gender, sexuality and discourse
• Conduct a research project on gender, sexuality and discourse (focus and methodology must first be approved in consultation with the instructor)

 

There are three class-hours each week (Thursdays 13:30—16:20; location TBA). There will be 11 lecture/tutorial sessions in which students will investigate, discuss, and debate various issues of gender, sexuality, language, and discourse; one hour per week will be used for tutorials with the purpose of preparing you for your research assignment. Attendance is required at all sessions and participation will be graded.

 

Assessment will be continuous and based 100% on coursework. That said, your final grade will also be affected by participation.

Data analysis proposal	25%
Tutorial participation	10%
Response wiki	25%
Research paper (pair)	40%

 

• Kiesling, Scott (2019) Language, Gender, and Sexuality: An Introduction. Routledge.
• Sauntson, Helen (2020) Researching Language, Gender and Sexuality: A Student Guide. Routledge

These two textbooks above are compulsory reading. Please buy paperback copies at the campus bookstore, where they will be offered at a discounted rate.

A list of readings will be given at the beginning of the course the semester and will be freely downloadable from HKU Library E-resources. Additional readings might be given from time to time, as the debate about gender and language continues. Students are expected to keep abreast of the latest developments in gender and discourse studies.