Language and social media

The course provides an overview of research on language use and language-related practices in social media, with a special focus on qualitative and discourse analytical approaches in applied linguistics. The course treats key themes in research on linguistic practices in social media, and also touches upon practical aspects of how research on language use in social media can be conducted. The concept "social media" is understood in the course as an umbrella term for many types of user-driven, digital, and online-based technologically mediated communication, ranging from e-mail and instant messaging to social network services, content sharing and streaming services, and digital games. The applied linguistics approach means that the course focuses specifically on the role of language use in social media in people's social lives, for example in relation to identity formation, learning, activism, and so on.

Instruction is in the form of seminars. Active participation in seminars is part of the examination in the course, which means that attendance is mandatory.

Progressive specialisation: A1N (has only first‐cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Education level: Master's level

Admission requirements: 90 ECTS credits completed, including a degree project of 15 ECTS credits at the G2F level in English or another main field of study in the humanities or social sciences, and upper secondary level English 6, or equivalent

Selection:

Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.

This course is included in the following programme

• Master programme in English: Linguistic specialisation (studied during year 1)