Language, Health, and Illness
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4366 | English | 4 | N/A | April Full Year UK, Full Year UK, January Full Year UK |
- Code
- ENGL4366
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- N/A
- Semesters
- April Full Year UK, Full Year UK, January Full Year UK
Summary
This pod introduces students to the subject of health communication, paying particular attention to the relationship between language and health and illness. Students will be introduced to a number of key topics, ideas and debates in this fascinating and exciting interdisciplinary field of professional and applied communication. Drawing on linguistic and multi-semiotic discourse insights, the pod critically examines the relationship between doctors and patients, health promotion campaigns, side effects information on common medications, and patient case records. Such coverage affords students an overview of both spoken and written approaches to health communication. Students will be introduced to a range of health-related texts and will explore underpinning issues such as the distancing and depersonalising effect of medical language, the use and abuse of power in clinical contexts, and the ideological impact of metaphor in medical communication.
Target Students
Students registered on the School of English online masters scheme.
Assessment
- 100% Participation: Student Participation
Assessed by end of designated period
Educational Aims
This module comprises an optional component in the following pathways: Applied English, Applied Linguistics, Discourse and Communication, Health Communication, Language and Linguistics, and Professional Communication. As such, it contributes in its specific aims to the programme-level coverage of these pathways.Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate understanding of key concepts in health discourse/communication studies.
Apply concepts and insights from health communication research in the analysis of text or discourse.
Articulate a nuanced understanding of how language and discourse impact the standing of participants in healthcare systems.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills acquired to the appropriate disciplinary and professional standard.
Assimilate and present subject-specific material in an appropriate format (assessed within the ‘Assessment Portfolio’ 1, 2 or 3).