Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.

Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.

Multimodality is a stage of disciplinary development, i.e. one through which many fields naturally pass (Bateman, 2022). Indeed, linguistics is one of those disciplines that have entered into what Bateman calls “multimodal phases.” As observed by this scholar, “those expansions are beneficial for the respective field because they show how principles and explanations uncovered have broader application than originally believed” (p. 4). The term 'language' is extended to include, not just words and sentences, but all forms of symbolic interaction (gesture, sign language, art, architecture, dance, music, etc.). How do we produce and interpret multimodal language? By human brains. This means that for any enterprise that enhances human comprehension and knowledge, what goes on inside individuals’ heads must also be a prime concern.
In this course, we will draw on sights and tools from cognitive science and cognitive psychology to explore the links between multimodal language and cognitive, social and political action. Among the topics we will discuss are multimodal metaphor theory, multimodal blending, multimodal mental models, relevance theory, the discourse-knowledge interface, systems of the human mind, categorization, moral-political reasoning, cognitive grammar, contextualization, discourse (language use) and gender, power abuse and manipulation, and identity construction.

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

This block seminar provides an overview of some of the central topics pertaining to language variation and change. During the seminar, we discuss a range of studies that approach linguistic variation from cognitive, sociolinguistic and contact-based perspectives. Important questions to explore include, for example: i) how is language change constrained and guided by our general cognitive processes, ii) what kinds of social and contextual factors affect language variation and change, and iii) how does language contact, or lack thereof, influence language change. The focus of the seminar will be on Late Modern English, but we will occasionally study earlier forms of English as well. The course is aimed at master’s students in (English) linguistics with at least some prior experience in linguistic analysis.

UPDATE (March 24, 2026)

This seminar contains a mix of forms of student-lecturer interaction:

1) two asynchronous video lectures, the first one of which will be made available from Monday, April 27, the second from Monday, May 11.

2) a live remote video lecture (via Zoom) on Thursday, May 21, from 10:15–11:45

3) classroom meetings (10:15–12:30 and 14:15–15:45) in person on the following days:
Monday 1 June
Wednesday 3 June
Friday 5 June
Monday 8 June
Tuesday 9 June (10:15-11.45 only)


Requirements
Students can complete the seminar either as a graded 6 ECTS course or an ungraded 3 ECTS course.

For the graded 6 ECTS option, you are expected to:
- Participate actively in teaching and classroom activities
- Read the required background material (articles, book chapters)
- Give a c. 20 min. oral (group) presentation in class based on a research article assigned by the teacher
- Write a short research report of c. 1,500 words (assigned by the teacher)

For the ungraded 3 ECTS option, you are expected to:
- Participate actively in teaching and classroom activities
- Read the required background material (articles, book chapters)
- Give a short oral (group) presentation in class based on a research article assigned by the teacher

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.

Multimodality is a stage of disciplinary development, i.e. one through which many fields naturally pass (Bateman, 2022). Indeed, linguistics is one of those disciplines that have entered into what Bateman calls “multimodal phases.” As observed by this scholar, “those expansions are beneficial for the respective field because they show how principles and explanations uncovered have broader application than originally believed” (p. 4). The term 'language' is extended to include, not just words and sentences, but all forms of symbolic interaction (gesture, sign language, art, architecture, dance, music, etc.). How do we produce and interpret multimodal language? By human brains. This means that for any enterprise that enhances human comprehension and knowledge, what goes on inside individuals’ heads must also be a prime concern.
In this course, we will draw on sights and tools from cognitive science and cognitive psychology to explore the links between multimodal language and cognitive, social and political action. Among the topics we will discuss are multimodal metaphor theory, multimodal blending, multimodal mental models, relevance theory, the discourse-knowledge interface, systems of the human mind, categorization, moral-political reasoning, cognitive grammar, contextualization, discourse (language use) and gender, power abuse and manipulation, and identity construction.

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.

In the course of this seminar, we will take a cultural linguistic
approach to a number of World Englishes, including Aboriginal English,
American English, Hong Kong English, South African English and West
African Englishes. The main focus will be to identify cognitive
processes that come to light in patterns of language use as well as to
find evidence for coherent cultural metaphors and underlying cultural
conceptualisations that are both unique to each of these varieties of
English and yet to some extent also universally shared between them."

Reading: will be made available at the beginning of the term

Forensic Linguistics is a branch of Applied Linguistics that involves the examination of spoken or written language evidence to aid in the resolution of legal disputes, criminal cases, and investigations. During this seminar, we will look at specimen of threatening communication from different historical and contemporary varieties of English, and we will focus on the question of how meaning and implied meaning are construed, how the effect of threatening is achieved and what kind of evidence may assist in the identification of suspects.