Language and Power
Elective Unit
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Description
This elective offers students the opportunity to explore the systems of language and develop their understanding of how language mastery provides access to power. Drawing on the fields of functional, computational and applied linguistics, the course can help prepare for future studies in VCE English Language or English and IB Language and Literature. Students will learn about the building blocks of language, exploring how different subsystems allow for the study of language from the smallest sound to full conversations. The course will include opportunities to engage in language code-breaking activities and conduct field research to consider how language can be used to reinforce social alliances. Students will also study the art of persuasion, exploring the visual language of advertising texts and the art of rhetoric in speeches across time.
