Course detail
Professional Styles in Czech and English
FEKT-HSCAAcad. year: 2019/2020
With the help of particular texts the course demostrates the most important features of academic or professional dicourse from different angles: it points out at the differences between Czech and English linguistics approaches, it strsses the linguistic differences, the differences between professional discourse in natural and human sciences, and between functional and pragmatic point of view.
Supervisor
Department
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Student is able:
- to distinguish in English between different linguistic means based on their formality or informality
- to create a linguistically correct text with the help of acquired knowledge of structural, stylistic and other features of diverse genres in professional discourse
- to characterize an unknown text from the point of view of linguistic means used.
- understand even a copmlicated English text, to use secondary sources during writing
- he is able to use sources actively: not only to support his point of view but to discuss different ideas as well
Prerequisites
The secondary school knowledge of English is required
Co-requisites
Not applicable.
Recommended optional programme components
Not applicable.
Recommended or required reading
Krhutová, M.: Parameters of Professional Discourse, English for Electrical Engineering, Tribun EU, 2009
Čechová, Marie - Krčmová, Marie - Minářová, Eva. Současná stylistika. Vyd. 1. Praha : Lidové noviny, 2008. 381 s. ISBN 978-80-7106-961.
Urbanová, L.: Stylistika anglického jazyka, Barrister and Principal, 2008
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in Article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
Examination will be awarded for delivering a seminar thesis – a review of an existing electronic product. The maximum number of points is 40 and the thesis must be delivered before the 13th week of semester.
The exam, using an in-class written test, tests the ability of the student to apply the acquired practical stylistic skills. The maximum number of points for the exam is 60.
Language of instruction
Czech
Work placements
Not applicable.
Course curriculum
Lectures: Introduction into the study of English discourse.
The Study of discourse as a linguistic discipline, its methods and methodology.
"Functional discourses", discourse criteria.
Differences between English and Czech written discourse - reasons and consequences.
Differences between the discourses of humanities and natural sciences.
Formal and informal language.
Possible obstacles when dealing with professional discourse, the most frequent mistakes.
The status of English in todays world, anglicisms, transliteration, transcription.
English and Czech word order and their stylistic usage.
Intention and acceptability of a text, the role of the (hypothetic) recepient of the text.
Coherence and cohesion of text and how to acheieve them, cooperative principle.
Genres of professional (academic) discourse in English speaking world and their main features
Aims
The course should offer the students a comprehensive introduction in the problematics of written professional dicourse, which will improves students’ competences while creating a written text of their own (especially in English), stressing correctness of the chosen linguistic means, and their stylistic or genre appropriatness.
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.
Type of course unit
eLearning
eLearning: opened course