Language and Global Identities

What are global languages and why do some languages become global, while others remain confined to local communities? Global languages are often taken to be hegemonic and imperial in nature, but can they also be instrumental in subverting centralised power structures and economies?

Many modern Western preconceptions about language and culture are shaped by post-enlightenment ideas about the nation state, national languages and national literary traditions that became dominant in the nineteenth century and then largely determined national educational systems, academic disciplines, government institutions and national cultures in the twentieth century. But the hegemonic and aspirational monolingualism of many nineteenth and twentieth century nation states masked from the outset complex multilingual practices on the ground, and complex historical precedents.

This module will unpack some of these complexities and provide you with a keen understanding of a range of processes that underpin the relationship between language and global cultural identities. The idea of translation will serve as a unifying concept as you explore how it functions across a series of different historical moments, media and scales. We will encounter, among other things, ‘untranslatable’ ideas, personal journeys in translation, animated medieval manuscripts and digital parchment.

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding of the role language may play in constructing cultural identity.
• Have an understanding of the issues and circumstances surrounding the development of language in different contexts - both historical and contemporary.
• Demonstrate an understanding of some of the key ways in which language and culture interact.
• Evaluate current theoretical and methodological concepts relating to monolingualism, multilingualism and translation.
• Reflect critically on the idea of the global through the lens of language and cultural identities.
• Recognise and evaluate connections between lived experience and global culture.
• Flexibly and creatively apply this knowledge to the analysis of contexts other than those taken as case studies by the module.
• Employ advanced skills in independent research and practice, communicating findings effectively.

The standard entry requirements comprise:

• A 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent,
• A CV and personal statement outlining your reasons for study,
• English language band C (for example, IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in reading & writing and 6.0 in listening & speaking).

You will be assessed through a 3,000 word assignment.

This module is taught online and you will be expected to attend live webinars as part of your programme of studies. In most cases, modules will have more than one webinar group, which will be scheduled at different times of the day so students can make reasonable efforts to attend the sessions from where they are based in the world. In some cases, however, modules might only have one webinar group available. The day and time of webinar sessions will be available in the Global Cultures Hub on KEATS upon enrolment and are normally scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. In the webinars you will have an opportunity to critically explore the module contents in more depth within small groups. These will be facilitated by your tutor and held via MS Teams. These 60-minute live sessions normally take place once a week and run throughout the six weeks of the teaching period. The sessions might include (but are not limited to) breakout rooms to discuss topics in smaller groups; open-floor discussion; presentations from students; debates; and close-reading analysis. The most important aspects of these sessions are interaction and participation. It is paramount that you prepare in advance and take an active role in these sessions. Webinars are not recorded. If you miss a session, you are encouraged to use the weekly forums to catch up on the discussion and get in touch with your study group. Module tutors will provide feedback on the forum posts where applicable and may offer slots during ‘office hours’ (availability may vary) to discuss specific queries.

This module is offered as part of our flexible master’s awards in Professional Development. The awards are one of the most flexible currently offered in the UK, providing the opportunity to study a range of modules from across King’s, both on-campus and online. Whether you are looking for a promotion or to retrain, you have come to the right place.

Designed for mature professionals juggling life and work commitments, our postgraduate awards will enable you to study at your own pace. In challenging financial times, you are also able to fund your studies module-by-module. We will support you to select the right module diet that meets your objectives while ensuring that you are well prepared for success. We will also help you to build your professional network of peers from across our suite of CPD modules.

We can’t wait for you to continue your lifelong learning journey here at King’s.